INSIDE: Snack Necklaces is one of the best summer activities for kids of all ages. Let your little one create a necklaces out of snacks! Snack, create and snack again – the recipe for a super fun and easy idea this summer!
Snack Necklaces for the Win
In need of an activity that serves two purposes – feeds as well as entertain? Then snack necklaces is the activity for you! I first saw this super easy idea by Susis at Busy Toddler as a great travel airplane activity for kids. I couldn’t wait to give it a try the next time we travelled, then, well you know the rest.
But the other day while the kids were playing outside in the sprinkler and were demanding – I mean asking – for a snack, the idea came back to me. Making a snack necklace at home would be just as fun and make an AMAZING summer activity! And since we were home, we could add a whole bunch of different types of snack foods – some healthy and some not so healthy like grapes, blue berries, dried fruits, pretzels and more!
Note of grapes: please cut the grapes and any other foods that may be a choking hazard in half before letting your child thread them on their necklace.
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Play is at the core of learning during the early years and it can take many forms. One of the most important of these is sensory play because it engages all of a child’s senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and has a enoumous positive impact on brain development.
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How to Snack Necklaces: Fun & Easy Summer Activity
To make the snack necklaces I used a toothpick attached to a piece of string using a hot glue gun. This worked fine for the first set of necklaces that my kids made but they eventually broke. I think using a toothpick is a great option in a pinch.
In the future I will be ordering these Large Eye Plastic Sewing Needles to make snack necklaces. They are not super sharp at the end so safer than a regular needle but they are strong enough to be able to poke through the snacks without breaking.
If you are using a toothpick, I used a very small amount hot glue gun to attached the yarn to the end of the toothpick. I also pre-poked holes in any snacks that don’t already have holes.
Snack Necklaces: Fun & Easy Summer Activity
For instance, I pre-poked holes in the dried mangoes and dried apricots just because it would be a little difficult for my preschoolers to pierce them with the toothpicks. I didn’t pre-poke holes in the grapes though since they would much easier.
If you can, use items that already have holes in them like Cheerios and pretzels. I added crackers, but found that the crackers were a bit tricky for the kids to attach and ended up breaking most of the time so these were just eaten and not added to the necklaces.
Other items you can include on your necklaces is cheese and raisins.
Making Summer Yummy and Fun
With the Large Eye Plastic Sewing Needles you can simple thread the yarn or string through and then let your preschooler thread the snacks. I tied an extra cheerio at the the very on the string so that nothing fell off as the threaded. Pre-poking holes is helpful for younger kids using when the needles but not necessary for older kids.
Remember adult supervision is required with this activity.
How They Played
They snacked, they made their necklaces, and snacked again! This activity was a total winner for summer! I will definitely be doing it again before the summer is over!
My 6 year old actually made 2 snack necklaces. She made one and ate it quickly, then made another one. Definitely a winner with all ages!
Supplies
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- Large Eye Plastic Sewing Needles
- String or yarn
- Appetizer dish
- Various Snacks:
- dried mango
- cheerios
- pretzels
- dried raspberry gummies
- dried apple
- grapes
- dried apricots
Age Suitability
This activity is good for kids 3 years and up. My kids are 3, 3, and 6 year old.
Looking for more summer and outdoor activity ideas? Check out of these other round-ups for more ways to keep your toddler or preschooler busy this summer:
- 25+ Outdoor Water Activities to Keep Kids Cool This Summer
- 40+ Awesome Outdoor Learning Activities for Kids
- 30+ Easy Outdoor Art Projects for Kids
- 60+ Awesome Outdoor Activities for Kids
- 45+ Awesome Water Sensory Bins for Toddlers & Preschoolers
- 40+ Water Table Activities for Toddlers
- 21+ Spray Bottle Activities for Toddler
- 20 Amazing Backyard Obstacle Courses
- 21+ Amazing Summer Sensory Bins
- 25+ Adorable Summer Crafts for Toddlers
- 40+ Ice Sensory Play
- 12 Healthy Smoothie Recipes for Toddlers + Kids
The Best Book of Sensory Bins
WILL YOU TRY SNACK NECKLACES ACTIVITY WITH YOUR KIDS THIS SUMMER? PIN IT FOR LATER!
