February 17, 2009 2:27 PM
Pegboards: building pincer grasp and concentration
(From a longer entry called Pegboards - and a few thoughts on homeschooling)
If you have a teacher supply store near you, you might want to take a trip there and browse the early childhood section to see how different educational materials are from all the stuff stocking the shelves at Toys R Us and Target (nothing against either, but there are lots of good things teachers know about and mommies don't.
Or browse through Early Education Materials under Barbara's Picks in my left sidebar, or check out my other site MommyTeachMe.net or buy my books or ask for them at your local library.
Here's the kind of specialized information which can help you use your time and materials at home to maximize their learning potential. Increasing your understanding of how and why they work will help your help your children reach their potential - while nurturing your relationship and harmony at home:
The potential of pegboards:
The purpose of pegboards is to increase your child's eye/hand coordination, perfecting pincer grasp (vital for writing skills), and to lay a foundation for left-to-right eye/hand movement (later writing and reading). They also can be used to teach stacking, sorting, sequencing, and counting. Most of all, they will help refine a child's concentration and ability to stay on task.
Keep in mind that the child's motor coordination moves from larger to more refined movement. Keep the pegboard and the pegs in a basket or plastic drawer or tray; the pegs should be in some kind of small container. The first time you take it out, carry it slowly and carefully to your child's work table. Sit on her left. Show her the pegboard and say "This is a pegboard." Then take out the container of pegs and place it on the child's left.
Now, take a peg out slowly and look at its shape to see how it will fit into the pegboard, then place it. Do a few more, paying no attention to color sorting. Then: "Would you like to put some pegs in the pegboard?" (If this sounds scripted, that's because I'm giving you the basic script - but you are a real, live, loving Mommy so you will sound like you!)
Encourage your child to fill all the holes. Then say, "Wow! That's great! Do you want to do it again?" If so, place the container for the pegs on her right and have her remove the pegs and place them in the container. Then switch the container to the left to start again. Always encourage your child to repeat an activity until she signals that she's had enough. This builds concentration, which is key in learning all your life.
When you are finished, have her put away the pegs in their container, the container and the pegboard in the basket and carry it carefully to a designated place - hopefully a shelf where her puzzles and other things are kept. Teaching a child to use things properly and then having them available for them to choose is a great way to reinforce their independence (the good kind).
The emphasis on the left to right is to exercise their eye/hand coordination in a way that will establish the foundation for later reading and writing. Whenever you set your child up for a task, keep this in mind.
You begin with a pegboard that is perfect for a toddler's full-fisted grasp:
Observe your child carefully and when you think he is ready, try something requiring more refined movement:
Remember I said you can also use the pegboards for color sorting (put all the same color in a row), sequencing (alternate two colors, then three), and stacking. Here is one that invites stacking, which boys would love (did you know that boys tend to build towers while girls tend to build enclosures - very interesting, doncha think?).
Now, the ultimate in refined movement is when your child reaches the point where he can pick up small thins easily with thumb and forefinger - which he's been working on since Cheerios in the high chair (did you know that that is early preperation for writing?). Now you go to the pegboard with very narrow pegs:
If you need an intermediary step before the tapered pegs, try these:
(be sure to order the separate plastic board for these)
I hope this has unlocked the secrets of pegboarding for you and your little ones! There is more of this type of explanation - although condensed - in Barbara's Picks under Early Education. In the meantime, I'm in the discussion stages for writing a book which will help moms learn to become their children's best teacher - you already are the first and most important!
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The photo is from a longtime reader, Beth, who captured her son's concentration and sent it in when I was looking for pictures for Mommy, Teach Me! This one made the cover of the book!
You can find other photos of children using Montessori at home principles - and my commentary - at my Mommy, Teach Me! photo album. Feel free to send me more!
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| Mommy, Teach Me! |
Posted in Homeschooling, Montessori, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink
Comments
Hi Barbara,
I love reading your educational advice for moms. My question is this: I have a 10 yr. old left-handed daughter whose handwriting is legible but not as neat and consistent as I think a 10 (almost 11yr. old should be). I'm wondering if she didn't get enough of the fine motor activities that you discussed in your article. Is there anything I can do now to improve her skills?
Thank you.
Posted by: Christina | February 17, 2009 8:44 PM
I ditto Christina's question, however my 10 year old didn't choose which hand he would write with until kindergarten and I actually think he could have been a lefty. He plays baseball and football left handed and golfs right handed. He is VERY good in all sports. Any help with fine tuning his writing would be greatly appreciated by me and his teacher :)
Posted by: Margaret | February 18, 2009 8:03 AM
I love the way to mention that the toys in the toy shops are differnt to the 'educational' equipment that teacher supply stores and catalogues list..as this is so true. However I also want to make a plug for the use of common materials such as: cardboard boxes, scarves, plastics bowls, clear plastic tubes etc....this provide hours of open ended experiences and don't cost a thing.
Posted by: Carmen of Baby Books | February 19, 2009 10:29 PM
