Tot Tools: Mini Montessori Clothesline
Even though BabyGirl is a little young for traditional Montessori (which starts around age 3), I am constantly reading Montessori blogs and collecting ideas, and adapting them for our use. I think that the independent, free choice style of Montessori works well for her personality, and helps give her constructive work to focus on while I do higher academics with JediBoy.
I was delighted by the mini clothesline at The Wonder Years and knew I had to make one of my own.
The materials were quite inexpensive: the felt and twine, scissors and wood glue we already had; the small oval box and lid were 50 cents, the wooden plaque (which also serves as the tray) was $2 and the doll pins, doll stands and mini clothespins were from small packages and weren’t more than $2.50 total – so the whole project was less than $5.
I made many more pieces of clothing than could fit on the line at once, so there will be plenty to choose from. I also made different items from different colors, so if I’m working with her I can ask if she can find two hats or two things that are purple. The action of pinning, of course, will help strengthen the muscles in her hand and work on fine motor control.
I put the set together while watching football with PisecoDad… BabyGirl was sleeping but JediBoy wanted to use the set as soon as the glue was dry, and he liked it quite a lot. He liked to choose “an outfit” to hang all at once – pants and a shirt, a hat and socks, for example. I think BabyGirl will get a lot of enjoyment out of this too! Find more Tools for Tots at 1+1+1=1.
January 18th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I love this idea. I am going to have to try and make this for Gabe. He would love it. Thanks for sharing.
January 18th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
What a wonderful idea!!! I will definitely make this for O. Thanks for sharing!
January 19th, 2009 at 11:08 am
This is too cute for words. I want one for myself.
January 19th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Wow!
I need to try something like this.
January 20th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
[...] made her a new Montessori style mini clothesline, which both she and JediBoy love. Doing the pins strengthens her hands, and we talk about what [...]