Motor Activity: Opening & Closing Extension

Age: 9 – 12 months

Goal: To develop fine motor skills and the pincer grasp.

Materials: mat, basket, 5 or 6 objects that can be opened and closed (book, box, purse, etc.) and an object to go in each container

Opening & Closing Extension

Opening & Closing Extension

  1. Prepare the work and get out the mat.
  2. Place the basket on the right side of the mat with the child sitting opposite you. The child should be facing the mat.
  3. Take one object out of the basket and examine it. Turn it this way and that, feel the texture, see if it can make a sound, etc.
  4. Then, using exaggeration, open the object making sure the child sees how the object is opened. Place the object on the mat still opened.

    Object in the Container

    Object in the Container

  5. With a certain amount of exaggeration, take the object out of the container. Examine it and then set it on the mat next to the container.

    Object on the mat

    Object on the mat

  6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with each object.
  7. Once all the objects have been opened and are on the mat, take the first container and put the object inside. Then, close it allowing the child to see how the container closes with the object inside. Then place the object back in the basket.

    All containers and corresponding objects on the mat.

    All containers and corresponding objects on the mat.

  8. Repeat with each container until all the objects are back in their respective containers and in the basket. Once you have completed the activity, invite the child to do the activity.
  9. When the child is finished with the activity, take him/her with you to return the work and mat to its proper place.

2 comments… add one

  • Charissa Jacobson July 4, 2011, 11:19 pm

    How did you get your child at this age past step one of having the mat on the floor? 🙂 My daughter, age 15 months, still grabs at everything and pulls, shakes, swings it in the air. She’s been like this from the beginning so I’ve only rarely used a cloth place mat for her meals. These are great activities, I’d love to learn more and refine my abilities to connect my daughter with constructive play, something that looks more organized to me. I’m feeling that I’ve let her have too loose of reigns with her works.

    • Jessica July 5, 2011, 1:16 pm

      I’m sure Joey picked up the mat and tossed it around some too. And keep in mind that the ages are just suggestions. I’ve found that there are some activities in my manual Joey just hasn’t been ready for at the age suggested. I find that it’s good for us to separate “work” activities from play–free or constructive. For us, work is on the shelf and most play things are in the bedroom.

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