We're on pins and needles around here!

I had my sewing stuff out the other day and I remembered this simple activity from my Practical Life training. Yes, a two or three year old can handle this if you teach them properly. Pins were on my shelf in my classroom and three year olds (some two at the very beginning of the year) would do this!

Here's what you need: a shaker of some sort (salt shaker, Parmesan shaker, etc.), a pincushion, and the exact number of pins that correspond to the holes.

Here's why you should do it: To help increase concentration levels, fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Here's how you do it: Place the pincushion with pins on the left and the shaker on the right. (pre-reading skills . . . left to right!) Insert the pins into the shaker holes.

Voila!

And then stick the pins back into the pincushion! Repeat as long as your child is interested!!

Here are some other alternatives: Use the "fancy" toothpicks instead of pins or put wooden skewers, plastic stirrers, or those little plastic swords (like for cocktails, maybe?) into a Parmesan shaker that has bigger holes.