Grasping

Material name: Grasping

Alternative name: Pincer Grasp
Target age group: 2.5 to 3 yrs old
Brief intro: A Montessori grasping activity is a hands-on, developmentally appropriate
exercise designed to help young children—especially infants and toddlers—develop fine
motor skills, particularly the ability to grasp and manipulate objects. These activities are
rooted in the Montessori educational philosophy, which emphasizes independence,
sensory exploration, and purposeful movement.
Components:
Mat - To perform the activity
Tray - To carry the objects from the shelf to the classroom
2 identical bowls - To transfer objects
Any objects to grasp - Objects like pasta, rice etc
Aims
Direct aim
Indirect aim
POI
COE
Vocabulary
How to introduce to students
Step1 - Carry the materials from the shelf
2. Sit beside the child at their level to model the behavior
3.Place the materials in front of the kid and start demonstrating.
4. First transfer the objects from the left bowl to the right bowl using the pincer grasp.
5. Then transfer the objects from the right bowl to the left
6. Place it back down, then invite the child by saying, “Would you like to try?”​
7.Allow the child to explore the activity with minimal interruption. Offer
encouragement, but avoid correcting unless it’s for safety.
8. Once the activity is done, ask then child to place the materials back in the shelf
Extension/Variation:

●​ 🥄 Spoon Transfer: Use a small spoon to transfer objects (like wooden

balls or beans) from one bowl to another.​

●​ 🤲 Hand-to-Hand Transfer: Show the child how to pick up an object with

one hand and place it in the other.
●​ Use child-sized tweezers to pick up soft pom-poms or cotton balls,
developing precision and control.
●​ Provide items of different colors or sizes and matching bowls or trays. Let
the child sort them using their hands or tools.
Bow frame
Material name: Bow frame
Alternative name: Lacing activity
Target age group: 3+ yrs old
Brief intro: The Montessori Bow Frame activity is part of the Practical Life area of the
Montessori curriculum. It's designed to help children develop fine motor skills, hand-eye
coordination, independence, and concentration by practicing how to tie and untie bows.
Components:
Mat - To perform the activity
The Bow frame: 12” x 12” (30 cm x 30 cm) with two flaps of fabric attached to
the frame which fastens with 5 pairs of ribbons in two colors. Each side has
its own color of ribbon.
Aims
Direct aim
Indirect aim
POI: The appearance of the white and pink ribbon to tie and untie the
bow
Task completion satisfaction
COE:
Visual Feedback
If the bow is tied incorrectly, it will look uneven, floppy, or not lie flat
Vocabulary: Tie, Untie, Knot, Open, Close, Bow, Frame, Ribbons
How to introduce to students
1.​ Carry the materials from the shelf
2.​ Sit beside the child at their level to model the behavior
3.​ Place the bow frame in front of the kid and start demonstrating.
4.​ First Untie all the bows from top to bottom
5.​ Remove the white stripes from the knot using right hand three fingers by
supporting the pink stripes with left hand
6.​ Bring the pink stripes from left to right and white stripes from right to left
7.​ Now open the left flap first and then the right flap by using two hand’s three
fingers
8.​ Reverse the steps to bow the frame.
9.​ Place it back down, then invite the child by saying, “Would you like to try?”
10.​Allow the child to explore the activity with minimal interruption. Offer
encouragement, but avoid correcting unless it’s for safety.
11.​Once the activity is done, ask then child to place the materials back in the shelf
Extension/Variation:

Bow-Tying on Real Objects

 ●​ Invite the child to practice tying bows on:​
Shoe laces​
Gift boxes​
Aprons or pinafores​
Doll clothes or dress-up outfits
●​ Use larger or smaller frames/ribbons to adapt for the child's fine motor
development stage.

Buckle frame
Material name: Buckle frame
Alternative name: Lacing activity
Target age group: 3+ yrs old
Brief intro: The Montessori buckle frame consists of a wooden or plastic frame with two
fabric panels connected by a series of buckles (e.g., belt-style, side-release, or snap
buckles). The child practices fastening and unfastening these buckles. This exercise is
designed to help young children develop fine motor skills, coordination, concentration,
and independence.
Components:
Mat - To perform the activity
A Buckles Dressing Frame: 12” x 12” (30 cm x 30 cm); with two flaps of leather attached
to the frame which fasten with 4 – 5 buckles.
A Bow frame
Aims
Direct aim
Indirect aim
POI:Whole hand grasp to pull the strap back.
Aiming the pin directly into the hole.
Task completion satisfaction
COE:
Visual Feedback
If the buckle is not fastened correctly, it will appear misaligned or not lie flat.
Vocabulary: unbuckle, buckle, strap, pin (also called a prong), loop
How to introduce to students:
1.​ Carry the materials from the shelf
2.​ Sit beside the child at their level to model the behavior
3.​ Place the buckle frame in front of the kid and start demonstrating.
4.​ First Left pincher fingers hold the top loop while the right fingers
pull the strap from the loop. Let go of the loop.
 5.​ Take the strap in your whole right hand and turn your wrist up so
as to pull the strap in the buckle.
6.​ With the left index finger, move the pin out of the hole and to the
right
7.​ Left fingers grasp buckle and right grasp near the edge of the
strap.
8.​ Pull them apart and release them. Repeat for the rest
9.​ When you get to the last one, briefly open and then close the flaps.
10.​Repeat the same process to buckle the frame
11.​Place it back down, then invite the child by saying, “Would you like to try?”
12.​Allow the child to explore the activity with minimal interruption. Offer
encouragement, but avoid correcting unless it’s for safety.
13.​Once the activity is done, ask then child to place the materials back in the shelf
EXTENSION/VARIATION
Offer a variety of dress-up clothes with buckles (e.g., belts, overalls, raincoats).​

Encourage the child to practice buckling on actual garments

Create a sensory board with multiple types of fasteners: buckles, zippers,

buttons, Velcro, and snaps.This integrates various dressing frame skills into one
project.

​
Rolling and unrolling a mat

In Montessori education, the activity of rolling and unrolling a mat is an essential

practice that fosters independence, coordination, and focus in young children. This
activity involves the child carefully unrolling a mat on the floor, ensuring it lies flat
without any wrinkles. The child then rolls it back up with attention to detail and precision.
This process, while seemingly simple, helps develop fine motor skills, concentration,
and a sense of order. It teaches the child to take responsibility for their environment and
materials while also promoting self-discipline and the ability to follow a sequence of
steps. Repeating this activity not only enhances physical coordination but also builds
the child’s confidence in managing their workspace and completing tasks independently.

SPOONING

The spooning activity in Montessori is a foundational Practical Life exercise designed to

help young children develop fine motor control, coordination, and independence. It
typically involves using a child-sized spoon to transfer dry materials—such as rice,
beans, or small beads—from one bowl to another. Presented on a small tray, the activity
encourages children to focus their attention, use precise movements, and complete a
task with care and order. As they scoop and transfer the items, children refine their
hand-eye coordination and strengthen the muscles in their hands and wrists, which are
essential for writing and other daily tasks. Beyond motor development, this simple yet
purposeful activity fosters concentration, responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment.

POURING (WET AND DRY)

In Montessori, pouring activities—wet and dry—help children develop fine motor skills,
concentration, and independence. Wet pouring involves transferring liquids, refining
hand-eye coordination and understanding of volume, while dry pouring uses materials
like rice or beads to practice similar skills with dry objects. Both activities foster
precision, patience, and responsibility, promoting cognitive development and
self-sufficiency.

TONGING AND TWEEZING

Tonging and tweezing activities in Montessori help develop fine motor skills, hand-eye
coordination, and concentration. Children use tongs or tweezers to transfer small
objects, like beads or buttons, from one container to another. These tasks refine the
pincer grip and promote precision, control, and patience. The hands-on nature fosters
independence, as children enjoy completing tasks on their own. Overall, these activities
support cognitive and motor skill development in a Montessori setting.

CLOTHES PEG ACTIVITY

The clothes peg activity in Montessori education is a practical life exercise designed to
develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and independence in young children.
Using materials like wooden or plastic pegboards, children practice opening and closing
clothes pegs, which strengthens their hand muscles and enhances dexterity. As children
engage in the activity, they learn to attach pegs to a pegboard or a line, improving their
concentration and focus on completing a task with precision. This activity not only builds
physical skills but also encourages children to develop a sense of responsibility and
self-reliance by independently completing the task. Over time, the challenge can be
increased by incorporating patterns or sequences, fostering further skill development
and a sense of accomplishment as children master the task.

SPONGING

In Montessori education, the sponging activity is designed to help children practice fine
motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. It involves using a sponge to
clean or wipe surfaces, such as tables or trays, or it can be part of practical life
exercises like washing dishes or wiping up spills.This activity encourages the child to
control the amount of pressure applied when squeezing the sponge, allowing them to
learn the concept of “just enough” (not too wet, not too dry). It also helps in developing
independence and responsibility, as children often feel a sense of accomplishment
when completing such tasks on their own.

DROPPER EXERCISE

The Dropper Exercise in a Montessori classroom is a Practical Life activity designed to

help young children refine their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. In this
activity, the child uses a small dropper or pipette to transfer liquid, usually colored water,
from one container to another. The simple yet engaging task requires concentration and
careful control of hand movements, which supports the development of the pincer grip
essential for writing. As children repeat the exercise, they also gain experience with
sequencing, order, and independence. This activity embodies the Montessori principles
of purposeful movement and learning through hands-on experiences.

WHISKING

Whisking activities in Montessori settings help children develop fine motor skills,
hand-eye coordination, and independence. Using a child-sized whisk, children mix
liquids or dry ingredients in a bowl, strengthening hand muscles and improving dexterity.
The activity encourages sensory exploration, concentration, and precision while
promoting responsibility through cleanup tasks. By mimicking adult demonstrations,
children gain confidence in their abilities and practical life skills, especially when
incorporated into simple cooking or baking projects.

BRASS POLISHING
Brass polishing is a Montessori practical life activity that helps children develop fine
motor skills, concentration, and responsibility. By polishing brass objects, children
practice hand-eye coordination, focus, and attention to detail. The task teaches care for
their environment and fosters independence as children perform the activity on their
own. This hands-on experience also instills a sense of accomplishment when they see
the polished objects, aligning with Montessori principles of nurturing practical skills and
a sense of order.

BUTTON FRAME (BIG AND SMALL)

The Button Frame is a Montessori activity designed to help children develop fine motor
skills, concentration, and independence. Available in two versions—big and small—it
caters to different age groups and skill levels. The big button frame is ideal for younger
children (around 3-4 years old), offering larger buttons that are easier to grasp and
manipulate, helping them learn the action of fastening and unfastening. The small
button frame, suited for older children (around 4-6 years old), presents a greater
challenge with smaller buttons, promoting improved precision and fine motor control.
This activity not only helps children practice practical life skills like buttoning clothes but
also encourages patience, focus, and self-confidence as they master a daily life task.
Through this simple yet effective tool, children gain important skills that they can apply
to other areas of their lives.

ZIPPER FRAME

The Zipper Frame activity in Montessori education is designed to help children develop
fine motor skills and independence by teaching them how to zip and unzip clothing. This
practical life activity typically features a fabric frame with a zipper, allowing the child to
practice opening and closing it. Through this activity, children refine their hand-eye
coordination, dexterity, and attention to detail. It also fosters concentration as they work
on mastering the skill of zipping, promoting self-reliance and confidence. The Zipper
Frame serves as an excellent tool to help children gain mastery over everyday tasks,
offering both a sense of accomplishment and the ability to perform tasks independently.

LACE FRAME

The Lace Frame activity in Montessori education is a practical life exercise designed to
help young children develop fine motor skills, concentration, and independence. It
consists of a wooden or plastic frame with two fabric panels that are joined by eyelets
and a lace. The child practices threading the lace through the eyelets, simulating the
action of lacing shoes or fastening clothing. This activity not only strengthens the small
muscles in the fingers and hands—preparing the child for writing—but also promotes
hand-eye coordination and patience. As the child works through the lacing process, they
gain confidence in their ability to complete tasks independently.

GRACE AND COURTESY ACTIVITIES

Grace and Courtesy activities in Montessori help children develop respectful and polite
social behavior. Through modeled and practiced actions like greeting others, saying
“please” and “thank you,” asking permission, and taking turns, children learn empathy,
cooperation, and self-control. These activities support a peaceful, respectful classroom
environment and promote positive social interactions.

WALKING ON THE LINE

Walking on the Line is a Montessori activity that helps develop balance, coordination,
concentration, and body control. Children walk slowly, heel-to-toe, along a marked line
(usually an ellipse), focusing on controlled and mindful movement. It fosters grace,
spatial awareness, and inner discipline, often forming part of grace and courtesy
lessons. Variations may include walking to music or carrying objects to increase
challenge.