Toddlers are ALWAYS on the go and seeking out to lift and move heavy things. At times it seems as toddlers grow they are constantly looking for ways to develop their strength and challenge themselves. Maria Montessori observed in toddlers that suddenly, after learning to walk toddlers they have a strong need to do heavy and hard work, which she defined as “maximum effort.” They are building on their new found freedom by building strength through mastering their gross motor skills.
To create this activity just save plastic bottles and fill them with water. You can enhance the bottles by adding Colorations Liquid Water Colors, glitter, figurines, oil, or sensory materials (rice, beans, rocks, feathers, beads, twigs, water beads, wiggly eyes etc.) You can also create a theme to tie in what’s going on in the world around them (seasons, color theory, holidays, etc.)
Inviting a child to explore these bottles promotes: gross motor skills (lifting, carrying rolling, and pushing), coordination & balance (by adding the element of weight it helps perfect these skills), social emotional skill (by meeting your child’s need to lift your are fostering their self confidence and independence).
Providing opportunities for a toddler to exercise the internal drive to reach this need for “maximum effort,” not only is developmentally appropriate it honors how their mind works, what their body needs and to instill that they are capable of doing anything.
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