Getting little fingers strong enough to tackle writing (or skilled drawing and painting!) takes a lot of work. Throughout the day, I marvel at how much the kids explore ways to use their hands. Sierra may pick up her peg people one way, and then a minute later, try a completely different approach. Even at such a small level, they are constantly experimenting with what feels most natural, and what is the most stable.
Lately, I've been trying to provide more opportunities for finger work within our circle time story. Using a story captures the imagination, and makes fine motor practice so much more meaningful. At the same time, by physically interacting with the story, the kids engage with the narrative in a deeper way, and I've notice they walk away excited to extend the story through play.
This past week's story was a winner - it was easy to set up, allowed both my toddler and preschooler to participate, and was captivating enough to repeat every day for a whole week.
THE PREP
I cut a piece of green felt to fit into a wood tray. It could easily be a green piece of paper, although I like the way felt slightly grips the buttons. I placed three wood houses that I had picked up in a bargain bin at one end. I then created three dotted lines leading from the houses to the edge of the tray. The kids would use the dotted lines as the guidelines for where to place the buttons.
Then each house was given a little peg doll, and at the foot of the tray, I placed a box of random buttons. Short on buttons? I think pennies or little rocks would work equally well.
THE STORY
"Once there were three friends Henrietta, Macy, and Darwin. (I tap each doll).
The three friends loved to go for long walks in the forrest, during which they would tell each other stories, and hunt for interesting looking bugs. They loved their time together so much that they decided to build three houses next door to each other right in the middle of the forrest.
Once the houses were done, the friends would meet every morning for a walk. Most mornings, the friends would walk across their yard and meet up at a path that led into the forest. After the first rain, the yard was so muddy that the friends got bogged down as they walked to the path.
'We need steps that cut across our yard and lead out to the path' said Henrietta.
'Let's go get some stones and start work!' Said Macy.
So the three friends found big flat stones and prepared to lay down steps. They drew out three little lines that led to their houses, and then set the stones down on the lines. It was hard work and they needed help. Will you help them?"
INTERACTION
Then the kids did their best to create little button paths along the dotted lines. With her little fingers working hard to manipulate the buttons and place them exactly on the line, this activity was a stretch for Sierra. Her path may have had some holes (that Rémy filled up), but it did follow the line and she seemed content with what she had created.
When the kids finished their work, we each took a peg doll and walked it up a little button path leading to a home. I think this was their favorite part. They both wanted the peg dolls to touch each and every button along the way.
After a few tellings, the kids wanted to extend the play. They did some landscaping - adding trees and a fence and cars (a yard just isn't complete without a few cars). I would leave out the tray during the morning and they would come back to it with animals or construction vehicles. And in the future, I'll probably bring the tray out again without the story time. They can author their own stories.
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