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Oatmeal container straw game: fun DIY toddler indoor activity

DIY free oatmeal container straw game for toddlers

Today’s indoor craft activity is for toddlers under two years old: it’s a color sorting straw game made out of a recycled oatmeal container. And trust me, it will keep them entertained at home for hours. All you need is an empty Quaker oatmeal canister (or cardboard box), a standard hole punch, a bunch of colorful straws, and my free printable below. Then show your toddler how to put the straws in the holes at the top of the can where they magically “disappear” into the container, and you’ve got an addictive new DIY indoor activity that you can make for free at home.

DIY free oatmeal container straw game for babies and toddlers

Playing with a DIY oatmeal container straw game

What is an oatmeal straw game for toddlers?

My friend Arlene told me about the oatmeal container straw game during the dead of Chicago winter when we were all desperate for new indoor activities for toddlers. I like to recycle objects into useful things, like fabric napkin rings made from Saran Wrap tubes and refrigerator magnets from vintage milk and juice cardboard bottle caps, and I like the idea of making a preschool educational activity that helps Elise improve her fine motor skills. So we made one and Elise was hooked!

See also: ‘Non-slip DIY play mat for Play-Doh and art projects’ »

A couple weeks later (and yes, this DIY activity kept my toddler entertained for weeks), I wanted to make the oatmeal straw game a little cuter and more challenging so I made a four-quadrant lid sticker for Elise to try to match the stripes on the straws with the colored holes. I also made her a stack of red, blue, yellow and green rectangular stickers to decorate the outside. Elise is totally into stickers these days and loved peeling them (with a bit of help) and sticking them on the container.

Making a free DIY toddler game activity

So now our color-sorting straw indoor toddler activity is fun and educational, too. And it looks a little more classy sitting in our family room than The Quaker Oats Man. Elise loves to watch the straws disappear and when they’re all gone, she loves to take off the lid, dump the straws onto the floor in a pile, and play again.

What makes this indoor toddler activity educational?

This DIY indoor toddler activity builds fine-motor skills. Toddlers will peel stickers to decorate their recycled oatmeal container game. And it takes a good deal of fine motor control to grip the straws and slip them inside the holes. Additionally, this DIY activity teaches toddlers to recognize and sort colors. As your toddler to name the colors as they sort them, or your toddler can say, “bye bye yellow!” as the yellow straw disappears into the container, and “bye bye blue!” It’s soothing to play this game — I often sit down and play it with my daughter and it’s pretty zen.

DIY free activity for babies and toddlers from recycled oatmeal container

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Supplies for making an oatmeal container straw game for toddlers under two years old:


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Step 1: Print the template onto sticker template and cut

Print my free oatmeal sticker template onto full-sheet easy-peel sticker paper. I recommend laser printing for best results but you can use inkjet. Peel 1-2 full-sheets of white sticker paper and cover the oatmeal container label to cover the container.

Cover oatmeal box with white paper

After that, cut the stickers into rectangles using your paper trimmer or good paper scissors.

How to make oatmeal container straw game for babies and toddlers recycled oatmeal container craft ideas and free project tutorial

Step 2: Add stickers to the oatmeal container

Let your toddler peel and randomly put the colored rectangles all over the oatmeal box. This was a fun indoor toddler activity in itself! My toddler spent a lot of time fascinated by peeling stickers and placing them onto the recycled oatmeal container. Her favorite friend, Pink Monkey, helped supervise.

Peeling stickers for a free DIY toddler toy

Step 3: Create the lid for the disappearing straw indoor toddler activity

Cut out a white circle from the full-sheet sticker paper, peel, and stick onto the top of the lid to cover the Quaker logo. This will ensure that the logo is completely hidden.

Make oatmeal container straw game

After that, cut out the colored circle sticker, peel, and stick onto the top of the white circle on the lid.

Decorating an oatmeal container lid

Use your 1/4″ hole punch to punch two holes in each color quadrant. You’re going to have to squish the plastic lid ring a bit t get your punch into the right place. Test your straw to see if it will go through; if not, keep punching to make larger holes. Alternatively, you can use a craft knife to whittle out some holes.

Punching holes in oatmeal container straw game

Put on the lid and play! In addition, this easy DIY indoor activity will keep your toddler interested for weeks. And they’ll start to learn their colors, too!

Playing with a DIY oatmeal container straw game

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Be sure to pin my recycled oatmeal container straw sort game DIY indoor toddler activity:

Fun DIY toddler indoor activity: Straw Sort Game

And here are more simple DIY toddler activities and crafts to make at home:

 

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Copyright stuff: You’re more than welcome to use this free project and tutorial for personal use. Contact me for commercial use and Etsy sales.

 

Alexa

Wednesday 18th of July 2012

I was about to mail one of these containers to my little niece, but it wouldn't fit in the box. Then I was going to put it in the recycling bin. But now that I've seen your post, I will make it into a toy for her.

Yogamama

Saturday 2nd of June 2012

We will definitely be doing this. I'd also been hanging on to oatmeal containers with no definite goal and we just bought a bunch of straws. My toddler will love this!

Marnie @ Carrots are Orange

Wednesday 11th of April 2012

Several months later I am still in love with this concept! Easy & Simple!

Jamie @ hands on : as we grow

Thursday 16th of February 2012

I have so many of these containers! I keep saving them but never come up with anything other than a drum to do with them... I included this in a roundup of materials to save for the kids to play with :) http://www.handsonaswegrow.com/2012/02/34-recyclables-to-upcycle-for-kids.html

Jamie

Shiela

Friday 11th of November 2011

Wow this is wonderful! My son would surely like this much. He is amazed with colors.