February Use Of A Funnel

Lucy enjoyed working with water this week. Red water to be exact. You'll need a tray, small pitcher with colored water (food coloring), I found this heart container at the Dollar Tree, funnel, and sponge for spills.




To give you a visual I found this great tutorial on youtube.

Pouring Water With A Funnel

February Heart Transfer

This particular work is perfect for a small toddler. I found these adorable hearts at AC Moore. They are sparkly with red glitter which will catch your child's attention. (observe carefully that they don't put hearts in their mouth) The heart bowls are from Target. You'll need a tray to place the bowls on.

To demonstrate this work have them sit beside you on the left side if they are right-handed (right side if they are left-handed). Pinch your fingers together several times to demonstrate how to pick up hearts. Take one heart at a time and transfer the hearts to the 2nd bowl. Once all the hearts are in the 2nd bowl, transfer them back to the first. Invite your child to have a turn. Once your child is finished, have them return the tray to the shelf.

February Gem Scooping

For this work you'll need a tray, 2 different size bowls, gems (I found these heart gems at Michael's), a wire strainer, and a sponge for spills.

1. To begin, have the gems in the smaller bowl without water.
2. Take one gem at a time and place it the larger bowl with water.
3. Pick up the strainer and scoop one gem up.
4. Keep the strainer over the bowl with water and allow all the water to strain.
5. I usually give the strainer on the sponge a tap tap to make sure all the water is extracted.
6. I then move the strainer over the smaller bowl without water and gently place the gem into the bowl.
7. Once all the gems are in the smaller bowl without water,  I ask the child if they'd like a turn.
8. After they've completed their turn, have them return the tray to the shelf.

February Use Of Tongs

 The use of tongs develops fine motor skills that lays the basis for pincer grip used in writing. I found these bamboo tongs at Montessori Services. You'll need a tray, 2 bowls or containers, and I used pom poms (red and pink for Valentine's). Hope you enjoy!

1. To present this work to your child, have them sitting on the left hand side of you if your child is right-handed (on the right if they are left-handed).
2. Pick up the tongs and show the child how to properly hold the tongs. I usually squeeze slowly a few times to demonstrate what the tongs do.
3. Demonstrate how to pick up one pom pom at a time and transfer it carefully from one bowl to the next.
4. Once all the pom poms are in the 2nd bowl, transfer them one by one back to the first bowl.
5. Ask your child if they would like to have a turn.
6. Once the child has completed their turn, have them return the work to the shelf.

Pom Pom Match

Lucy has really got the hang of her colors and matching objects. I decided to put the two activities into one with this Pom Pom Match.

The containers are actually our no spill paint cups we purchased for our art works. I placed them on a tray and used coordinating pom pom colors for Lucy to match. I would say the name of each color as I used pincer grasp to pick the pom poms up. I gave Lucy a turn and she enjoyed dropping each one into the right container.

Pumpkin Grasping

I have put a few fall practical life activities out this month. I'd like to share this pumpkin grasping work.

I picked these pumpkins up at Michael's and they are darling. I used a paint tray that I found at the Dollar Tree to place the pumpkins in. Make sure to demonstrate the pincer grasp as you pick up each pumpkin. I always start at the top hole and go towards my right when placing the pumpkins in. Do the same as you collect each one to place back in the bowl.

Pom Pom Drop

I created this work a few years ago when Ava was a toddler and decided to put it together again for Lucy. It's a great grasping work, it allows for repetitiveness of putting in and dumping back out and open and close. (every toddler loves to do that!)

I took an empty parmesan bottle but you could use any bottle/container that allows the child to open and close and to see the objects being put in and taken out. I used an assortment of pom poms and put them in a basket. Place the bottle and basket of pom poms on a tray and there you have it.

It's important that while demonstrating you show your child the pincer grasp before picking up the pom poms. Slowly take each one and place it in the bottle. Once all the pom poms are in the bottle take both hands and gently dump them back into the basket. Enjoy!!