Earlier this month Jamisen started preschool, and I can hardly believe he is almost three years old (sob). My (totally and completely not attainable) dream is to be a Pinterest Mommy so to help him get a jump start on learning, I’ve been searching Pinterest for fun, easy and affordable activities that involve his age range. We are focusing on learning shapes, colors and numbers, and I thought this tutorial would be absolutely perfect.
Jamisen couldn’t wait to help me make these colorful little tubes. He was thoroughly entertained with all the different sizes and colors for the entire project.
This is a really simple project that includes toilet paper rolls and construction paper. You can buy oragami paper that is the perfect size or you can cut your paper to size and either glue or tape it onto the toilet paper roll. I choose nine different colors to help Jamisen differentiate between each one. Developmental psychologist suggest that your child’s ability to recognize different colors starts to accelerate around 18 months, which is the same time kids begin to notice, shape, size and texture.
After you are done cutting, make sure to adhere the colored paper securely to the toilet paper roll. I used a glue stick coupled with Glue Dots on mine, but I’ve also seen it done with tape or a hot glue gun. Make sure they are fully dried and adhered before using.
Jamisen couldn’t wait to get his hands on these and immediately started filling them with puffy balls. We are trying to teach him his colors, but he seemed much more interested in seeing how many puffy balls he could get in one tube. I wanted him to match the puff ball colors to the colors on the tubes but that didn’t happen … (sigh).
Another way you can use these to help teach your children is by number matching. You can either write, draw or use number stickers on your tubes. Your kids can drop the matching numbers using beads, beans, or puffy balls in the tubes (Jamisen loved doing that!).
Jamisen is all about stacking anything he can get his hands on, and these tubes were no exception. The original post recommended cardboard circles to use as a base between each roll, but Jamisen was able to carefully steady each additional roll. Do you see the utter concentration in his eyes as he is carefully stacking each individual part of his colorful tower? He was so proud of how high he got each one and then giggled as they would fall down. He loved (loved loved!) to have Mommy stack them and then he would come and just whack ’em to knock them all over. I consoled myself that this was a good lesson on gravity and physics for him.
One of the big benefits of this easy and affordable project is the fact that you can work in so many activities. We found that color matching was a great game (with a little help from Mom and Dad of course), and had fun later that day using them as tube tunnels for his Matchbox cars and trucks. I would suggest this project to any parent with a toddler; it is an easy way to help them start learning at home.
Oh, my! What fun! I’ve been so busy and away for so long, I have some catching up to do…
Looks like Jamisen will be taking after his daddy…I see a budding engineer there, stacking up all those rolls. Maybe an architectural engineer.
Next up, you should try using paint and mixing the primary colors to make the *voila!* secondary colors. I think he’d be quite surprised by that! I love that age! Enjoy it while it lasts!
You can cut those rolls into 3 or 4 pieces and make some napkin rings. Just add a wee embellishment or a ribbon. Next thing you know, he’ll be wanting to help you set the dinner table! 🙂
Oh I agree; such a little budding engineer. He loves to take things apart and figure out how things work.
I love the paint idea. So tactile too. We could put the paint in bags and let him squish up to make those secondary colors.
Oooooh! Good idea! No mess if you tape those bags closed. When it comes to making soap, mixing and swirling colors is the best part of the process.
This is a spectacular project, I think it could do well with Dementia & Altzheimer patients.
I have to say that the title of this really had me confused because I wondered what a little Shaver could do with toilet paper besides the obvious. I was glad when I opened up the email to see the paper tubes. I have a bunch of them I thought I might use them for making small round soap but changed my mind and they are just sitting there. I have no children but I can send them to a cousin.
Hi Mary Lou!
I think that is a spectacular idea! This easy DIY project is great for all sorts of things and we really love your creativity with it. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Hi Mary Lou!
That is such a creative idea to do with this project — I’ll definitely pass it on. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Almost 3? When did that happen!
Well, 2 1/2 but really, that’s practically 3 right? And I KNOW! When did that happen? I swear, now that I know it moves so fast, I use almost every available opportunity to just gaze into Lily’s eyes and cooh and marvel at her little baby-ness. I feel a little wistful knowing we might be stopping at two kids. Sigh …
I can’t believe he’s three either! How quickly time flies! Seems like he’s having a ball! What a lot of colourful things to play with! Fun!!
What is particularly amazing to me about Jamisen is how dang happy he is … all the time! I mean, he has his normal toddler temper tantrums but he is remarkably open, curious and delighted about the world and his place in it. We feel ridiculously blessed and fortunate.
O’ My! I love this project..Such a great idea. Looks super easy to do. Thanks for sharing your find 🙂
So easy to do – and yeah, it was time consuming but all craft projects are. AND, best thing? Jamisen played with it for over 2 hours. That is a major victory…