Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

As a developmental therapist, I search for toys that teach and are durable enough to last through the repetitive play experiences that it will encounter throughout daily and extensive use by my clients. This set of tubes passed the test. So far, it has endured therapeutic play sessions with 20 very active toddlers over a period of one month. These tubes seem to be sturdier and a better quality than the tubes I’m used to getting. Unless a child bites it, it will last quite a long time under normal use. Also, the child can overextend the tube several times causing indentions that can be corrected by an adult. I highly recommend this item. As for using it as a teaching tool, I work with several children who have a difficult time coordinating their movements enough to deal with their clothing properly. These tubes have helped me teach children the skills and actions they need in order to dress and undress themselves. Here’s how I do that... connect the ends of the tubes to make a circle and then lay it on the floor. (The tubes will expand as needed during the process of this activity. If you are working with larger children, you can always connect another tube so there are two or even three tubes making the circle.). Have the child step into the circle, bend over, grip the tube, and pull the tube up to their waist (pulling up pants). Next I let the child fiddle with it until they can get the tube over their head (taking off shirt). They may need some prompting at first to manage getting one arm out and then the other. Depending on their competency with dressing I may place the tube over their head or simply give it to them, so they can place it over their own head. At this point, they learn to place one hand/arm through the circle and then the other hand/arm. (You May need to prompt them to do this one at a time, while using their free hand to hold the tube.) At this point they will work the tube down to their waist and then down to the floor. They have just learned the actions to put on a shirt and push down their pants. In addition to dressing, this is a splendid sensory toy with the sounds it makes and the feel of it. The child can make it twist and turn. With adult supervision due to the choking hazard associated with little objects, you can show them how small objects (popcorn kernels, dry rice, dry pinto beans) can pass through the tube. This is a very versatile toy. Your imagination can create limitless activities!