Here's What To Do
Gather a container (like a small box, plastic bowl, or food storage container) and small items (like blocks, toy plastic links, or small pieces of food).
Encourage me to drop 2 or 3 items into the container before taking any out. If I can do that without taking any out, increase up to 5 or 6 objects.
Let me have fun dumping the container once I've finished putting the objects in.
Encourage me to drop things into containers throughout the day. Ask me to put a few toys in a box or drop bath toys into the tub.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Sit on the floor with me and make a silly face at me.
Engage:
- "Can you put all the blocks into the bowl?"
- "Don't take any out until they're all in the bowl."
Encourage:
- "Oops, there's one more left. Can you put them all in before you take any out?"
- "Hooray, you put them all in. Go ahead and dump them all out!"
Reflect:
- Am I able to finish the task before I try to take objects out?
Not quite ready?
Encourage me to drop objects into a container without worrying about how many I complete.
Ready for more?
Try this activity with a small, narrow-necked bottle (and small objects like cereal).
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to put 6 or more small objects into a container without removing any.