Moving Strung Objects Across a Line

I had difficulty coming up with a title for this post, but I can tell you that this activity was a lot of fun and quite unlike anything I've done with Tyler! Though the blog where I discovered this idea [The Great Green Room] set this activity up outside, we tried this a couple days ago when we were still stuck indoors. Ty and I really needed something really fresh to occupy our time and space, and this was just the thing!

To set-up, I found as many items with holes in them as I could and strung them on some yarn. I then tied each end to a chair and placed a basket of heavy books on each to keep the chairs from tipping if the line was pulled. I set one line high and another low. Though somewhat open-ended, Ty's job would be to move the objects along the line.

Ty woke early from his nap while I was setting up, so I wasn't able to gather all of the items I wanted but we had enough to make it fun. I used all sorts of lacing beads and other objects meant for placing onto dowels, hair ties, paper clips, baby connect toys, CD's, measuring spoons, a small basket, teethers, old bottle rings...anything I could find with a hole! If I had more time I would have added cookie cutters, stacking rings, pipe cleaners shaped into circles, old necklaces or bracelets and a small tambourine. Next time I may create some sort of pattern with large and small objects or with colors as well.

Ty was quite intrigued when he saw the line of toys stretched across the living and dining room area and it only took a moment of showing him how it worked before he was ready to play. He was deeply focused for nearly half an hour the first time around. Sometimes he pushed one toy across at a time, but often tried to move the entire line, or several objects at once. He just seemed amazed with the whole process of pushing one object and making a whole line of them move.

Ty didn't care much for the lower line, which didn't surprise me. I figured it would be easier to use the higher line, but wanted to present the activity with two possibilities so he may see the differences between high and low and what changes he would need to make with his body.

Seeing that he enjoyed this so much, I did keep it up the rest of the day and through the next morning. I wasn't sure if he would get annoyed with the yarn being in his way as he made his way through our main living areas, but he seemed to almost enjoy the obstacle of having to duck and lift the lines over his head. I have to say this would likely be even more fun outside with more space, but enjoyable  regardless of where you play!

Linking this up with Tot School!