Cardboard tube engineering: A STEAM activity for preschoolers

A STEAM engineering activity with cardboard tubes and straws is a simple, open-ended way for preschoolers to build, test, and problem-solve using materials you probably already have at home. At N Family School, we love activities like this because there's no single right answer, just room for your child to experiment and figure things out their own way.

What you'll need

Empty cardboard tubes (paper towel or wrapping paper rolls work great)

Paper straws

Child-friendly scissors

Small ball or pom-poms

Best ages for this activity

This activity works well for children roughly ages 3 to 6. Preschoolers who are comfortable using child-safe scissors can cut their own straws to different lengths, while younger children can enjoy building and testing with pieces you've already trimmed for them. Small ball and pom-pom is best for children ages 3 and up.

Why this activity builds early learning skills

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) experiences build real skills early on. This kind of open-ended play encourages creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, and because there's no single "right" way to build it, your child gets to take on the challenge in a way that makes sense to them.

How to try it at home

Set out a range of cardboard tubes, ideally in different heights and sizes. If you don't have much variation on hand, you can trim some down yourself. Add a stack of straws to the mix.

Make a few holes in the tubes at different levels, or, for older children, let them make the holes themselves with your support. If your child is confident with child scissors, let them trim their own straws to different lengths. Otherwise, prep a range of lengths ahead of time so they have plenty of options to choose from.

From there, let your child decide how to put the pieces together. Many children like to test their design by rolling a small ball or pom-pom through the tubes and straws to see where it ends up, but there's no wrong way to explore.

Hands-on STEAM moments like this one are exactly what our Lab is built for at N Family School. Children get to test their ideas with real materials and see firsthand what happens when a design works, or when it doesn't and needs a second try.

Want to see N Family in action? Inquire today to learn more about N Family School.