Clothespins
From Montessori Album
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Clothespins | |
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Practical Life - Fine Motor Skills | |
Level | Pre-Primary Primary |
Age | 3 - 4 |
Prerequisites | Carrying a Tray Grasping Transfer |
Materials | tray several clothespins container for clothespins |
This activity teaches the child how to use clothespins. It also helps them to develop their pincer grasp and helps with small muscle development.
Presentation
- Carry the tray to a table.
- Remind the child of the grasping motion used in Grasping Transfer by making the movement in the air a couple of times.
- Pick up a clothespin in your dominant hand with a pincer grasp. Show how it opens and shuts by pinching it open in the air a couple of times.
- Squeeze the clothespin so that it is held open. Line it up over the edge of the bowl, lower it into place. Relax grip so that the clothespin pinches on the edge of the bowl. Let go with your hand.
- Repeat with remaining clothespins.
- Remove the clothespins one at a time and place them back in the bowl. Return the tray to the shelf.
Points of Interest
Control of Error
The child knows that he has done the activity correctly when the clothespins all stay clipped to the edge of the bowl.
Variations and Extensions
- Use different colored clothespins and have the child clip them on matching colored taped spots on the edge of the bowl.
- Use different kinds of clothespins or chip clips.
- The clothespins could hold items to the sides of the bowl:
Material
Be sure that the edge of the bowl or container is thin enough to easily attach the clothespins.
Source: Leptir Montessori Blog
Source: Leptir Montessori Blog
Further Reading
- Teach Me to Do It Myself by Maja Pitamic, pages 32-33