Unlock Your Child’s Motor Skills with a Fun Montessori Activity: Pouring to the Line

As parents, we all want our children to develop their motor skills and become more independent. One fun and educational way to achieve this is by incorporating Montessori activities into their playtime. Not only do these activities improve their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, but they also help them learn important life skills. In this blog post, we will explore one such activity – pouring to the line – and how it can benefit your child’s development. So let’s dive in and discover the world of Montessori together!

Pouring to the Line

Suitable Age: 3+

Materials: 

• A tray
• A glass marked with a line
• A pitcher of colored water
• A small sponge
• A bucket for emptying the glass

Direct Aim:

To pour liquids to the line of a glass or cup independently

Indirect Aim:

• Muscle refinement
• Concentration
• Hand-eye coordination
• Independence
• Sequence of movements

Presentation/ Child instruction: 

1. Once you have both been seated, draw the child’s attention to the line on the glass, then slowly pick up the pitcher of water and lift it slightly above the glass, allowing both rim and spout to be very close (without touching each other). Try to avoid moving your arm/elbow while pouring the water from right to left. Water from the pitcher should be poured into the line on the glass or as close as possible.
2. Once the water has been poured, slowly pick up the sponge with your other hand and place it on the tip of the pitcher to prevent any drops from dripping along the side.
3. Once complete, slowly empty the glass in the bucket, again using the drip sponge.
4. Now you may invite the child to try.

Point of interest:

• The various colors used in the water
• The line on the cup
• Pouring liquids

Control of Error: 

• Moving the arm or lifting the elbow too high while pouring
• The pitcher and glass touching
• Spilling water
• Pouring too much or too little water

>> Read more: Unlock Your Child’s Motor Skills with a Fun Montessori Activity: Pouring Equally to Many Containers