Pipe Cleaner Dragonfly Craft: A Fun Way to Build Language Skills
Looking for a simple, engaging activity that works rain or shine? This colourful pipe cleaner dragonfly craft is a great way to keep little hands busy and boost essential language skills at the same time.
What You’ll Need:
1 popsicle stick
2 pipe cleaners
Googly eyes
Glue
How to Make It:
Shape the wings: Bend one pipe cleaner into the shape shown in (A). Repeat on the other side to create two matching wings (B).
Attach the wings: Wrap the wings around the top of the popsicle stick (C).
Add the lower wings: Repeat the same process with the second pipe cleaner for the lower wings (D).
Create the body: Wrap any remaining pipe cleaner around the center of the stick to make the dragonfly’s body.
Finish it off: Glue on the googly eyes!
How to Target Language Skills While You Craft:
This hands-on activity isn’t just fun—it’s a natural opportunity to support your child’s communication development. Try incorporating these strategies:
Model pronouns and grammar goals: Personalize the activity. “What kind of dragonfly does Mom want?” “She wants blue wings.” Adjust based on your child’s goals (e.g., possessives, plurals, sentence structure).
Narrate the process: Use rich vocabulary to describe actions—“wrapping,” “bending,” “twisting,” “gluing.” You’re building your child’s expressive and receptive language in the moment.
Encourage sequencing and planning: Ask open-ended questions like “What should we do next?” or “How do we start?”
Offer choices: Invite your child to make decisions. “Where should the wings go?” “Do you want red or green eyes?” This supports turn-taking, expressive language, and autonomy.
Save or Share!
Pin this activity or share it with other parents, or speech therapists who want creative, purposeful ways to build communication skills through play. For more questions about speech therapy in Elmira, do not hesitate to contact us at Clearway Speech - your Elmira Speech Therapy clinic!