Unlock Your Child’s Motor Skills with a Fun Montessori Activity: Superimposition of Shapes

As a parent, you always strive to provide the best possible environment for your child’s growth and development. One of the key aspects of this is ensuring that your child’s motor skills are honed and strengthened from a young age. While there are countless activities and exercises that can aid in this process, one technique that has gained immense popularity in recent years is the Montessori method. In particular, the concept of superimposition of shapes is a fun and engaging way to help your child unlock their motor skills potential. Whether you’re a seasoned Montessori practitioner or simply looking for new ways to stimulate your child’s growth, this activity is definitely worth exploring.

Superimposition of Shapes

Suitable Age: 3+

Materials: 

• A small drawer consisting of:
  • Stickers of different shapes (lick and stick variety)
  • A napkin holder (holds sheets of paper with outlined shapes)
• A tray consisting of:
  • A small bowl containing a wet sponge
  • A pencil
  • A sponge
  • And tweezers
• A placemat
• Paper towel
• A bucket for water activities

Direct Aim:

• To match and stick various sticker shapes to outlined sheets of paper independently

Indirect Aim:

• Refined movement of the muscles in the hand
• Concentration
• Hand-eye coordination
• Independence
• Sequence of order
• Fine motor skills

Presentation/ Child instruction: 

1. Invite the child to choose the sheet of paper he wishes to use
2. Once the sheet of paper has been chosen, the child is to choose stickers from the drawers that match the shapes on the sheet of paper.
3. Once all stickers have been chosen, the child will place the sheet of paper, along with the stickers onto the tray, and take the tray to the work table.
4. Take one sticker from the tray, using the tweezers, and match it to the shape on the sheet of paper. Then moisten the sticker on the sponge in the bowl by placing the sticker directly onto the sponge, allowing the glue on the back of the sticker to moisten and become sticky. Now place it onto the chosen shape on the paper and press down with the dry sponge.
5. Offer the child the chance to continue.
6. Once all stickers have been matched and glued to the shapes on the sheet of paper, write the child’s name and the date for future progress. Ask the child if he wishes to try the activity once again.
7. His finished works can be placed into his special box or taken it home.

Point of interest:

• The various sizes/colors of the shapes of the stickers, making an art project, matching

Control of Error: 

• Matching the wrong sticker to the wrong shape
• Difficulty when superimposing the sticker to the shape
• Difficulty following the sequence
• Forgetting to tidy up
• Difficulty to complete the activity

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