When setting up pouring activities for your child or for a classroom, keep in mind the real purpose of the work: Coordination, Concentration, Independence, and Control. What is important is not the act of moving beans, rice, or water from one vessel to the next, but gaining these skills necessary to complete the task.
Some simple guidelines to follow:
- Use larger objects (large beans or acorns) to pour first, then move to smaller objects (rice or beads), and finally water.
- Begin with vessels without handles, with a spout. Move to vessels with handles and a spout.
- As the child gets more practice, add more small vessels on the right.
- Children who are experienced with pouring work can handle no spout, and pouring with a purpose such as food preparation or drinking water.
- Use a tray as a control of error. Objects spilled will fall there, and be noticed by the child. It will be easier for the child to clean up after himself if there is a tray. Some large plates work for this, as long as the child can carry it to and from a shelf successfully.
- For water pouring, provide a small sponge or absorbent cloth (old cloth diapers work wonders!) on the tray for the child to clean up the spout and tray.
- Adding a touch of color to the water can add interest and make it easier to see for spills. Food coloring or liquid water color works well.
- Aim all handles toward the child’s belly. This allows for the child to develop his own hand dominance.
- Pour from left to right first.
- Larger vessel on the left.
- Add interest by changing the objects inside the vessels or changing the trays.
- Place the easiest pouring work on the top left, gradually increasing difficulty level as the eye travels to the right and to the bottom. Always display work from left to right, top to bottom- just like reading.
Be prepared to help fix the work at first, be patient, and show the lesson like you are choosing the pouring work yourself. Have fun!!!
Jessie is a mother of three beautiful daughters (twin tots & a preschooler), an AMS trained Montessori teacher of 40 students, and a wife to one. Jessie has a background in dance, a yoga certification, and a Masters in Early Childhood Education. Jessie has a childhood education blog at http://educationofours.blogspot.com/. Jessie is also on Twitter @educationofours.