What you need:
- Flat discs like milk jug caps, colored poker chips, juice can lids, plastic coasters
- Clean plastic cylinder with a lid
What to do:
- Cut a slot in the lid wide enough to put the chips through. (We found a parmesan cheese container works well since the lid already has holes.)
- Give your child the “chips” and the empty cylinder without a lid. If he doesn’t do it on his own, show him how to put the chips in the can.
- Put the lid on the can and show him how to fit the chips into the holes.
- Encourage him to open the can, dump the chips out and do it over again. (Tip: Offer other types of “chips” such as clothespins, ping pong balls and juice can lids to see what he can do with them.)
What he’s learning:
As he figures out how to solve problems, like turning the can so the chip will fit in, he’s developing thinking skills and his brain is making permanent connections.
