On our way home from school yesterday Kiddo and New Kid spotted a treasure trove of nature’s finest manipulative: acorns. Perfect for fine motor skills practice!
We brought them home and of course the first thing we had to do was wash them. They were collected from an urban sidewalk afterall and we have all kinds of nature in the city.
Washing them proved to be very entertaining for New Kid and he spent lots of time swishing them around in a tub of water, spooning them out and making up stories about tugboats.
Next he sorted them into an ice cube tray.
He giggled as he aimed them into a muffin tin through a cardboard roll.
He poked them through holes cut into the top of a yogurt container (you may recognize that container from a certain pom pom activity we’ve done in the past).
But I think his favorite way to play was running an acorn delivery service for the neighborhood squirrels.
Acorns. Who knew?
Tim, Allyson, and kids says
Wow! We definitely need to go outside and store some away before the squirrels take them all 🙂
I'd love for you to link up to our Finished Friday blog party.
Momand Kiddo says
While we were gathering these a squirrel up in the tree dropped a few on our heads.
Anu Ganesh says
Very nice fine motor activities indeed!!!
Scribble Doodle and Draw says
What a great way to use nature to build up fine motor skills. I've featured your post on my blog. Thanks for sharing.
Shaunna (@Shaunna_FFL) says
My girls would love washing the acorns, too. And the acorn delivery services was very creative! Thanks for sharing this post at the Discover & Explore linky.
Sharon@DiscoverExploreLearn says
It always makes me happy when I see kids using items found in nature to explore and create. I love the ‘acorn delivery service.’ That is something my boys would do for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Laura M says
Love the acorn delivery! These are all fun ideas!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks, Laura. Who knew acorns could be so much fun?
Alecia says
I love all of the ideas, and I cannot wait to try them out with my three and four year old this week…I Think they will especially love the idea of putting them in the cars and trucks as a delivery service.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Wonderful! Have fun with it.