Throughout the summer the toddlers have shown a special interest in manipulative toys. In their daily play children use their hands to manipulate toys and objects to learn about how to use them. This type of natural play is enhanced by providing activities that specifically help the children work on their fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, sensory awareness, in-hand manipulation and so much more. These skills are essential to help in the development of daily living activities. As educators we expanded on the toddlers interest by creating and providing many such activities. Throughout the summer we have explored straws and cups, a playing card drop, pool noodle threading, tin can drops with bracelets, pipe cleaners and checkers, pouring tasks, shape sorts, pool noodle and plunger stacking, pop it’s and muffin tin tape rescues.
Using a cup with a straw insert we used straws to fill up the cup by sliding them through the straw hole. It took concentration and focus to line up the straw with the hole. We also filled containers with playing cards and checker pieces, as we slid them through a slit in the lid of the container. Building on the same skill, in a different way. We have enjoyed exploring the cause and effect of pushing our popping toys pressing each bubble on the shape and feeling the pop back as it pushed through on the other side. Fundamental fine motor skills such as reach, grasp and release are important early learning skills. Not only have we been able to enjoy these activities all summer but we have worked on motor skills, imagination skills, we have tried out and tested new ideas, worked on perseverance, turn taking and collaboration.
“I did it,” Parker cheered as he managed to slide the card through the slot and watched it drop to the bottom. “I can hear it!” exclaimed Daniel as he listened for the pop it sound each time he pushed a circle. “Yellow, green, blue” identified Yousef each time he pulled a cube from underneath the tape over the muffin tray. “No lid” requested Zack so he could pour the straws from one cup to the other.
Toddlers learn about themselves and their surrounding world through experiences just like these. Manipulative play allows them to change or move things by handling objects during play. We saw clear benefits to such activities as the toddlers examined and discovered and demonstrated clear examples of learning and evolving with each new activity.
