Does your child need more practice opening their food pouches? This simple, Christmas-themed twist-off cap activity is the perfect way to encourage fine motor skill development while keeping your toddler engaged.
Using reusable food pouch tops and cardboard, I created a festive star-shaped activity that’s fun, budget-friendly, and practical for building those little muscles in their hands.
Supplies Needed
• Reusable food pouch tops (washed)
• A sturdy piece of cardboard
• A small cylindrical tool (or anything that can widen a hole in the cardboard)
• Scissors
How to make a pouch twist star
Draw your star or just use this cute star printable I made. Then just tape the picture on your cardboard.
Use a pencil or screw driver to poke holes through the cardboard in the spots where you’ll place the pouch tops.
I used a toy shaped like a cylinder to make the holes larger, but you can use any tool that creates a hole big enough to fit the threaded part of the pouch top.
Cut a slit on two sides of each hole to help push the threaded part of the pouch through the cardboard.
: Push the threaded part of the pouch tops all the way through the holes. Make sure the entire threading is exposed so your child can twist the caps on and off fully.
Test It Out: Once everything is secure, practice twisting the caps on and off!
Pro Tip: If the cardboard isn’t holding the pouch tops firmly enough, you can tape or glue them down from the back for added security.
Age Suitability
This activity is best suited for toddlers 2 years old and up. At this age, some children have developed the fine motor skills and coordination needed to fully twist caps on and off.
By 2 years old, children are better able to focus on tasks requiring precision, and they’ll benefit from the problem-solving aspect of figuring out how to secure and remove the caps. However, because the caps are a choking hazard, this activity requires close adult supervision at all times to ensure safe play.
If your child is younger but shows interest, feel free to try it out with caution, as every child develops at their own pace!
Younger toddlers, like my son at 16.5 months, may enjoy exploring the motion of twisting but might not yet be able to complete the task independently.
We played for a bit, and packed it away for a later time.
This one is fun, because you could do it with any theme! Or no theme at all. Plain cardboard is just fine.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday!
