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Setting Up Pouring Activities

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.

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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.

Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers | Blog Post Directory

Friday 30th of August 2013

[…] Water can provide endless hours of entertainment for preschoolers—and it’s easy to clean up if they make a mess!  Jody provides suggestions for pouring activities for your preschoolers.  Read more here. […]

aboutcallcard.com Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers

Friday 30th of August 2013

[…] Water can provide endless hours of entertainment for preschoolers—and it’s easy to clean up if they make a mess!  Jody provides suggestions for pouring activities for your preschoolers.  Read more here. […]

Pauline

Saturday 26th of January 2013

Thank you for this article! Very simple but full of great info! One thing I like to do is to keep a little bowl of sponges by the sink instead of on the works. This reflects more real life in the sense that when we make a spill we have to go and find a sponge and also shows that we trust they will not spill. It also helps further their independence in cleaning up after themselves. I heard a parent tell me just recently how her daughter now goes and cleans up messes at home very independently due to this.

Jody @ Mommy Moment

Saturday 26th of January 2013

Thanks for sharing your idea Pauline. Enjoy your weekend.

Cheri

Friday 1st of July 2011

Thank you for posting this! I am trying to find new ways to improve my child's motor skills. This sounds like something she would enjoy.

Practical Parenting

Wednesday 22nd of June 2011

We do a lot of water and sand, but I really like the idea of beads or beans and the control tray. Great post!