The tongs (training chopsticks actually, I think), beads, & tray we are using were a post-fire gift from our friend Colleen at Sunrise Learning Lab. These are also items that are easy to pick up at thrift stores, discount stores, and craft stores clearanced out at the end of a season. The seashell is a bath slip gripper thingy (I’m sure that’s the technical term). The suction cups on the back provide the perfect spot to place each bead while keeping them from rolling around. You can also use a bath mat cut into an interesting, relevant, or seasonal shape. Cotton balls and mini pom-poms make great tweezing practice as well. For some kids, they are easier to start with than beads- which roll around a little more on their own.
All of the Montessori practical life transferring activities help develop muscle control and strength in the hands, but tweezing in particular really helps build up those pencil-holding muscles in the fingers. Another pre-learning trick about Montessori activities is to always set up the activity to move from left to right. You wouldn’t likely do this activity ONLY to develop a sense of left to right movement, but these intentional, indirect aims are a large reason why the Montessori method is so successful.
Expect to see even more sensorial and practical life activities in the coming weeks. Kylee has entered an intense period of interest in this type of work and as long as she is working I might as well share!
This post is linked to: Montessori Monday at Living Montessori Now
Hi Heidi!
Yes, I have done some reading on Charlotte Mason and find a lot in her works that really resonates with me. I love the idea of using living books and also believe in training children in godly habits. I also like Montessori's approach to practical and sensory activities– so we're a little eclectic!
I'll be interested in seeing how Work, Play, Read progresses. I enjoyed the Mouse Paint activity– we recently did a week on "m is for mouse" and read Mouse Paint as well as other related books. I try to review the books we read– sometimes there's not enough time!
Time is always the tricky part for sure! If you or your kids want to post a review for Work Play Read we would love to have you! Even just a simple quote from a child about what they liked or didn't like about the book is great. Last week our reviewers had a comment back from someone related to the author!
I love training chopsticks, and your activity with them is great (LOVE the seashell "bath slip gripper thingy")! Thanks so much for linking this with Montessori Monday. I featured this along with your multiplication activities at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LivingMontessoriNow