Screwing and Unscrewing
Three jars, three lids, and a wrist rotation to master.
Screwing and Unscrewing is a Montessori activity for a child aged 2 to 3 years. Area: Fine Motor. Time: 10 min.
What the activity builds
Discover the screwing motion, and match each lid to the right jar by size.
The materials
- Three jars in clearly different sizes, with their lids
- A tray
How to do it, step by step
- Present the closed jars, lined up from biggest to smallest.
- Unscrew them one by one and set the lids beside them, out of order.
- Show how to try a lid, and what happens when it doesn't fit.
- Let them match and screw the lids back on at their own pace.
The parent's role
Show once, then step back. A jar that won't close is an excellent teacher. Let them keep trying before offering your help.
Safety
Plastic jars are best, never thin glass. Check that no rim is chipped.
You remain the sole judge of what is right for your child. These activities are offered for educational and recreational purposes: they do not replace medical advice or the guidance of an early childhood professional.
Ways to adapt the activity
- Easier: two very different jars.
- Harder: five jars close in size.
- Useful: closing up the kitchen's airtight containers.
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