Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards
Purpose: for the child to build their fine motor control and coordination
Level of Parent Involvement: Low, once modelled the child may work independently
Prerequisites
- None
Materials
- A packet of various sized locks with their matching keys (The Reject Shop, Kmart and other $2-dollar shops have got packets of locks and keys, usually containing 3 different sized locks)
- A tray or basket to keep the activity
Preparation
- Remove the locks from the packaging and place on the tray/basket
- They keys will come on a key ring, remove each individual key from the ring so they are separate
- Place the keys mixed on the tray/basket
Steps
- Invite the child letting them know you have a new activity to show them
- Show the child the tray/basket with the locks and keys, naming them, the child may bring them to the table
- Invite the child to sit down, sit to the side of the child respective to your dominant hand as to not obstruct the child view of your hand movements
- Take the first lock from the tray/basket
- Pick up a key, show the child how to line up the key with the bottom of the lock where the key hole is
- Try the key to see if it opens the lock, if it is the right key, place the opened lock back onto the tray/basket, or try the other two keys until you find the key which opens the lock
- Once all locks have been opened, show the child how to close the locks
- Invite the child to have a turn
Variations
- Once the child can successfully open all 3 locks you may introduce more locks on the tray (up to 6)
- The child may practice opening and closing different fastenings such as locks with a chain etc (see image below)
