I have always encouraged my kids to get in there and explore the world around them. So, I was happy to learn that hands-on play is important for brain development and learning. Now I try to find even more ways to get my kids to play, even if it means playing with their food. They particularly love making spaghetti monsters.
If your kid likes spaghetti and hotdogs, this project will be right up their alley. Plus, they get in a great session of tactile play while they make dinner. It’s a win-win.
Things You’ll Need
- 1 Packet of spaghetti
- 8-pack of hotdogs (you can also use soydogs)
- A pair of kitchen scissors (You can also use kid’s scissors instead, just make sure you wash them first!)
- Pot for cooking the spaghetti
- Sauce pot
- Large bowl
- Spaghetti sauce
- Water
- Kitchen tongs
Directions
- Cut the hotdogs into 1 to 2 inch sections and place in a bowl.
- Fill the cooking pot full of water and set it on the stove to boil.
- Put your sauce in a pot and put it on the stove at medium temperature to warm.
- Have your child grab a few pieces of raw spaghetti and a piece of hotdog.
- Show your child how to stab the hotdog chunk with the raw spaghetti to create legs for their monster.
- Keep adding legs until your kiddo is satisfied.
- Do this to all of the chunks of hotdog.
- Once all of your monsters are created, drop them into the boiling water carefully.
- Let your child watch as their monster’s stiff legs get all soft and squishy. You’ll know the monsters are done brewing when their legs are soft and still a little chewy.
- Using your kitchen tongs, fish out a few monsters and put them on a plate.
- Let your child cover their monsters in red slime (the spaghetti sauce) and snow (parmesan cheese).
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If your kids are like mine, they will want to make little spaghetti monsters over and over again. Next time, switch up the sauces or try rainbow colored spaghetti. With a few changes, this play activity can be new every time.