Pipe Cleaner Fishing Game for Toddlers

If you are looking for a simple play idea to put together for your toddler in minutes, pipe cleaner fishing game is exactly what you need!

Awesome for fine motor skills, sensory play and pretend play, this activity is easy to set up game keeps toddler engaged for quite some time.

And they love to come back to play “fishing” every couple days!

Which Supplies We Used for Pipe Cleaner Fishing Game?

You will need:

• pipe cleaners
• mason jars or plastic cups

For this game, you will only need 2 things: pipe cleaners (chenille stems) and some type of container.

We used empty glass containers from instant coffee, just because we had them on hand. But you can use plastic cups as well if you have a tiny tot and you’re afraid they might push it off the table.

How to Set Up Pipe Cleaner Fishing Game for Your Toddler?

1. Take several pipe cleaners and form a fish shape with them.
2. Use another pipe cleaner to form a hook (just bend one end). Use pipe cleaners in different colors for fish and for a hook. This way it will be easier for a toddler to hook a fish.
3. Place mason jars or plastic cups on a table and place fish in each.
4. Hand your toddler a hook and invite them to go fishing!

HOW TO PLAY A FISHING GAME WITH PIPE CLEANERS?

For start I placed in each container one fish, it was easier for my, at the time, 2-year-old toddler to hook them this way. And we used tops to sort out our catch.

As your toddlers become a more experienced fisherman, you can place more of them into a single container and let them play! My toddler loves catching fish and she plays with this very simple game almost daily. Hope your toddler will enjoy it too! 

Optional: Add a scientific spin to this play idea by adding magnetic wand and inviting children to fish out pipe cleaners as they explore magnetism.

What Your Toddler Can Learn with Pipe Cleaner Fishing Game

Although this game looks super simple, there are many benefits your toddler will get playing:

• work on their fine motor skills
• hand-eye coordination
• imaginative play
• sensory play (exploring textures and colors)

Extend Playtime with Books About Fish

Pipe cleaner fishing game will be a wonderful extention activity toddler can do after reading a book about fish and maritime life. Here are few of our favorites to get you inspired!

Big Fish Little Fish is a colorful book that appeals to both babies and toddlers. Kids love colors and cutouts, while the book has an educational element by teaching opposites. Cutouts work very well with the fish theme, creating pretty rainbow fish scales. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom

The message behind The Rainbow Fish book is all about not being selfish, giving of ourselves, putting others first, and being a friend. It’s likable and easy to comprehend book. Bonus is that the pages are glittery and it’s perfect choice for little ones who like sparkly things! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom

Where does Baby Fish like to explore? Follow along with this cute baby fish as it experiences its world, from playtime to bedtime. Featuring a permanently attached plush finger puppet, book offers parents and children a fun, interactive way to play and read as they build a lifelong love of books together. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom

Press the buttons, and make a splash in the ocean with this fun, noisy board book! Splash in the ocean with 10 sound buttons! Swim through the world’s oceans and learn about whales, seals, dolphins and more with stunning photography. Then press the sound buttons to hear all the splashing, singing, roaring and squeaking! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom

NEXT PLAY IDEA YOU SHOULD TRY WITH YOUR TODDLER

If you would like to add more sensory play to your toddler’s day, set up net fishing sensory bin! It’s super easy and you get to use recycled bottle caps. On other hand, if you would like to add learning element, your toddler can play counting with fish crackers. We also extended the maritime life theme to alphabet with letter j for jellyfish as a weekly theme for tot school. Happy playing!