Updated: Nov 25, 2021
Physical Development - Moving & Handling (40-60+ months):
Handles tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely and with increasing control.
Draws lines and circles using gross motor movements.
Toilet roll tube
brown paint
paintbrush
Use the paintbrush to paint the toilet roll. This will become the log for the frog to sit on. Then mix some white paint into the brown paint to make it lighter. Use the paint brush to flick the paint to create a speckled log.
Encourage your child to move their paintbrush from left to right making an horizontal line. This is one of the pre-writing shapes and being able to draw it will help your child to be able to make the strokes needed to write letters.
Hand and Wrist Strength – Squeezing the paint and using the rolling pin develops the muscles needed to control a pencil when writing. Strong wrists, hands and fingers means it will be easier for your child to hold a pencil for longer periods of time before fatigue sets in.
Bilateral Co-ordination – Painting the toilet roll tube requires children to use two hands together with one hand holding the toilet roll tube steady and the other hand controlling the paintbrush. When they write they will use this skill; their dominant hand will hold the pencil and their other hand will keep the paper still as they write.