Unlock Your Child’s Motor Skills with a Fun Montessori Activity: Marbles and Tongs

Playing with marbles is one of the best ways to keep kids entertained and improve their fine motor skills. With their smooth and slippery surface, marbles can be tricky to pick up with anything other than your fingers. With this fun activity, kids can practice using their fingers to grip the marbles, which will help them develop their motor skills. Not only will they have hours of fun, but they’ll also get to enjoy the satisfaction of mastering a challenging new skill.

Marbles and Tongs Activity

Suitable Age: 2 1/2+

Materials: A tray consisting of two bowls/dishes (one with a few marbles, the other empty) and tongs.

Direct Aim: To independently grasp each marble using the tongs and place them into the second bowl, and the three-finger grasp

Indirect Aim:

• Concentration
• Refined movement of the hand
• Hand-eye coordination
• Independence

Presentation/ Child instruction: 

1. Before picking up the tongs, show the child the three fingers which she will be using to use the tongs properly.
2. Picking up the tongs and again show the child the same finger work (only this time using them with the tongs). Using the tongs, begin by slowly picking up one marble at a time and placing them into the empty bowl as quietly as possible.
3. After approx. 3 marbles have been placed inside the second bowl, invite the child to try them.
4. Once all the marbles have been placed into the second bowl, invite the child to try again if she wishes.
5. Regardless of the answer, you will remind her to turn the tray. This will bring the bowl with the marbles onto the child’s left side and ready for use.

Extension:

Transferring with different tongs, in order to offer different challenges

Point of interest:

The various colored and heavy marbles, the tongs, the beautiful glass bowls, and the slight clinking sound made by the marbles.

Control of Error: 

• Grabbing the tongs too high or low (not opening/closing tongs)
• Dropping the marbles
• Making excess noise when placing the marbles in the bowl or dish
• Unable to complete the activity
• Difficulty to use three finger grasp

>> Read more: Unlock Your Child’s Motor Skills with a Fun Montessori Activity: Spooning