Tips, Please!
Obviously, as a caregiver, your first instinct is to keep items that are easily inserted into orifices away from toddlers. The idea of little ones playing with Q-tips can be scary for a lot of parents. I was nervous at first too, not so much anymore. Now we have a bag full of colorful cotton swabs that we use for various activities that are, of course, highly supervised. “Tips, Please!” is a request I hear a lot in my house.
I first let my daughter play with Q-tips when I was trying to avoid a meltdown on a long flight. I had a travel sized container with me in my purse and that did the trick! Once I saw how much she enjoyed them, I decided that they should be added to our activity toolbox.
Items needed for this activity:
Q-tips (cotton swabs)
A container with an easily opened lid
Empty tissue box
I like to offer multiple colors of Q-tips. Don’t worry if you do not have colorful Q-tips. White cotton swabs will be just as interesting to your little one the first time you try this activity. That is what we started with!
Steps:
Grab a handful of Q-tips and place them in front of your child on the table or floor. If it is the first time that they have been exposed to cotton swabs, this might be enough to entertain them for a bit.
Toss a few into the tissue box. Observe how they choose to retrieve them.
Place a few of the cotton swabs in the container with the lid fastened.
Discuss how some of the cotton swabs are inside and some are outside of the containers. Ask if the lid on the container is open or closed. Would they like some help? They might completely ignore you. That is perfectly okay. Your child is refining their hand-eye coordination and dexterity with this activity. They might not be as interested in routine conversation.
I recommend adding more items that your little one can insert the Q-tips into or store them in when your toddler needs more of a challenge.
This activity can easily turn into a sorting, counting, matching or vocabulary activity once your toddler is finished playing independently.