How it Plays

As soon as a child masters the pincer grasp using his thumb and forefinger, he becomes obsessed with Cheerios and other small, round objects. This fun activity takes advantage of that interest—and may even keep him sitting still long enough to eat some breakfast!

Start by spreading a thin layer of cereal rings on a plate or cookie sheet or in a shallow pan. (You need something with edges to corral the cereal, or this will be an exercise in frustration for both of you.) Cut enough plastic string or use a thin shoelace with plastic-coated ends to fit loosely around his wrist for a bracelet (do not make a necklace with plastic string or shoelaces because they could be strangulation hazards). Make a large knot in one end, or tie the cord around a cereal ring to prevent the others from slipping off. Show your child how to thread the cord through the cereal; don't give up if it takes him a few tries to learn this new skill. If your child is old enough to make patterns, separate different types of cereal into their own bowls and help him alternate rings of different types.

Another variation is to use shoestring licorice for thread. It's less sturdy, so it's better for children over 2 years old. Once the cereal is strung, you can tie the licorice around your child's fingers to make matching rings. And once he's done, he can devour everything he's made.

What You'll Need

Learning and Growing

Bead stringing is one of the prime tools teachers use to develop fine-motor skills and hand-eye coordination. If your child is old enough to plan and create patterns (usually age 3 and above), this activity teaches color, size, and shape recognition too.