Grasping
Grasping things comes as naturally to children as breathing. The ability to grasp and use the brain to understand what were holding, and to be able to forward-think and plan how to best use what we we’re holding, is what helped to take us from apes to early humans.
Grasping is an important activity in the Montessori Elementary area, and it is usually one of the first presentations we will present to our children.
Grasping
What are the aims of teaching grasping?
There are both direct and indirect aims in teaching children how to grasp in Montessori. Direct aims in teaching grasping are the ability to hold something well. The many different indirect aims of teaching grasping are increased concentration, patience, as well as preparation for reading and writing from left to right. Teaching grasping in Montessori develops the child’s hand and finger muscles, as well as improving dexterity.
Why do children like to grasp things?
Children seem to enjoy grasping as it comes naturally and is a central mechanism in learning about the world and what is around the child. All children love feeling and experiencing different types of textures too. Montessori teachers will usually put things like pasta or rice in bowls for the children’s tactile sense to be heightened.
Keeping an interest in teaching grasping
Some teachers will also colour their rice, pasta, and other materials for this activity to maintain the children’s interest in grasping. This promotes the same concept of grasping but keeps the child focused on the learning task.
Montessori bowls for teaching grasping
It is ideal to have one single colour when teaching any skill in practical life in Montessori, rather than having one colour for rice, another colour for pasta, etc.
Looking for more Montessori activities?
Here is the full list of the Montessori tasks, including preliminary, elementary, applied exercises, and grace and courtesy. Just click on the activity you want to learn about to go there.