Cooked Spaghetti Sensory Tray Play
Dump a tray of cooled, cooked spaghetti in front of your toddler and let them pull, squish, and drape noodles everywhere. Gloriously messy.
What You'll Need
- 1Box of spaghetti
- 2Vegetable oil
- 3Food coloring (optional)
- 4Baking sheet or high chair tray
- 5Child-safe tongs or slotted spoon
What You'll Need
A box of spaghetti
A splash of vegetable oil
Food coloring (optional but fun)
A baking sheet or high chair tray
Child-safe tongs or a slotted spoon
How to Play
Cook a box of spaghetti, drain, and rinse with cold water so it's comfortable to handle.
Toss the cooled spaghetti with a splash of vegetable oil to prevent sticking.
For extra fun, add a few drops of food coloring and toss to make colorful noodles.
Spread the spaghetti on a baking sheet or directly on the high chair tray.
Let your toddler dig both hands in — pulling, squishing, draping noodles over the edge, tearing them apart.
Offer tongs or a slotted spoon for a more advanced transfer challenge.
Narrate: "You're stretching it so long! Squish! That one's purple!"
Tips
Strip your toddler down to a diaper or use a long-sleeve smock. This gets spectacularly messy.
Cooked spaghetti is completely taste-safe, which is exactly what you need at this mouthing age.
If you color the noodles, use three different colors and see if your toddler starts to sort them naturally.
The slippery texture is different from anything else in your toddler's world — that novelty is what makes this so engaging.
Lay a plastic tablecloth or old shower curtain under the high chair for easy cleanup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 15 min, with 10 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: box of spaghetti, vegetable oil, food coloring (optional), baking sheet or high chair tray, child-safe tongs or slotted spoon.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 1-2 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This is an easy activity that requires minimal setup and supervision. Great for busy days or when you need something quick.
Ratings & Reviews
Sign in to leave a rating or review.
Add to Your Weekly Plan
Schedule this activity into your family's week. It takes about 15 min.
Free account required to save plans
Explore More
Love this activity?
Create a free account and add it to your weekly planner. Discover hundreds more activities matched to your child's age.