Teach Your Child Responsibility and Boost Confidence with this Simple Daily Task: Cleaning Shells, Rocks, And License Plates

As parents, we all want our children to grow up to be responsible and confident individuals. However, finding ways to instill these values in our kids can be challenging. Luckily, there is a simple daily task that you can incorporate into your child’s routine that can help teach them responsibility and boost their confidence. Cleaning shells, rocks, and license plates may not seem like much, but it can have a big impact on your child’s character development. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of this task and how you can easily incorporate it into your child’s routine.

Cleaning Shells, Rocks, And License Plates

Suitable Age: 3+

Materials: 

• The tray consists of :
  • a pitcher
  • a small bowl (or a spray bottle)
  • a toothbrush
  • a small sponge (drip sponge)
  • a rock (brick, shell, license plate)
  • an apron
  • a placemat
  • a piece of paper towel
• A bucket for water activities

Direct Aim:

• To clean items such as rocks, shells, etc… independently

Indirect Aim:

• Refining of the muscles in the hand
• Concentration
• Hand-eye coordination
• Independence
• Order of sequence
• Fine motor skills

Presentation/ Child instruction: 

1. Show the child where to find the materials on the shelf and invite him to carry the tray to the work table.
2. The child will know where to place the tray, placemat, paper towel, and bucket. Go back to the shelf and invite the child to choose the item he would like to clean and return to the table. Show the child how to display the items from the tray on the mat in the order of the activity.
3. Take out your apron and place it on being sure not to block the visibility of the child. Now, invite the child to place his apron on, assisting him if necessary.
4. Invite the child to go and get some water in the pitcher (show him how much water).
5. When the child returns, invite him to pour some water from the pitcher into the bowl (he will know to use the drip sponge). (Omit this step if you are using a spray bottle.)
6. Once the water has been poured, pick up the toothbrush and place it in one hand, and then pick up the rock and place it in the other hand (stable hand). Then wet the toothbrush using the water from the bowl (or mist the item with the spray bottle) and begin to clean the rock using circular motions, rotating the rock from time to time.
7. After the child sees the process, invite him to try it. Once the child has cleaned the rock, give him the opportunity to use this activity again independently.
8. If the child declines, invite him to tidy up his work area and return the tray back to its original place on the shelf.
9. Invite the child to use this activity anytime.

Point of interest:

• The various items to clean and the shininess of the item once cleaned

Control of Error: 

• Pouring too much water into the bowl (or misting the item too much)
• Spilling water
• Difficulty holding an item in one hand and working with the other hand
• Forgetting the sequence

>> Read more: Teach Your Child Responsibility and Boost Confidence with this Simple Daily Task: Oiling Wood