B a r b a r a s h e r I l L u s t r a t I o n s b y r a L p h

D
I R E C T I O N S
Give your child two or more different-size bottles and their lids. You can,
for extra fun, put some tasty morsel inside, such as a raisin or chocolate
chip. Show her how to rotate her wrist to unscrew the lid and then turn it
the other way to screw it on. Once she gets the movements down, tighten
the lid so she can also work on increasing her finger strength.
V
A R I A T I O N
If your child is ready to handle glass jars, give her a variety of jars with lids.
(Do this on a soft rug to avoid any breakage.) Take the lids off and toss
them together, mixing them up. Now your child has the extra challenge of
finding the right lid for each jar.
W
H A T
’
S
B
E I N G
L
E A R N E D
Children are focusing on the precise and correct way to rotate their hands
to screw on the lids. This is a self-correcting experience because if they’ve
done it the right way, the lid stays on. If not, it usually falls off.
In the jar variation, children are learning to pay attention to differences
in sizes and shapes as they experiment using the trial-and-error method
until they choose the correct lid and it satisfyingly works!
Ooh—Smell This!
Our sense of smell needs a workout as much as our other senses, and this
exercise helps a young child become more aware of this sensory equipment.
Comparing whiffs helps your little one focus on similarities and differences.
He might even want to share the experience with the family dog!
T
Y P E S O F
A
T T E N T I O N
E
N C O U R A G E D
Open and focused
Games for 1- to 3-Year-Olds
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