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Why do it?
- Posting a peg into a bottle helps children develop their hand–eye co-ordination.
- It also encourages problem solving — the child has to figure out how to line the peg up so it fits into the hole.
- It gives them a chance to have fun and feel satisfaction with their achievements.
- It can be developed into a turn-taking activity.
- It also provides an opportunity for using language-building strategies — parallel talk, self-talk and stretch talk.
How to do it
- Use pegs without springs, so your child doesn’t pinch their lips or tongue if they put the peg in their mouth.
- Use a plastic bottle with a handle so they can hold the bottle steady with one hand — a clean milk bottle is ideal.
- Give your toddler a peg and the bottle and let them explore — see what they do with them.
- Invite them to put the peg in the bottle and see what they do.
- If necessary, show them how to post the peg, or guide their hand.
- If they aren’t experiencing success, find a container with a wider opening to practise with, and then try the bottle again later.
Using more te reo Māori
Ipu |
Bottle |
Ipu miraka |
Milk bottle |
Kōhao |
Hole |
Mātiti |
Peg |
Tangohia te mātiti |
Pick up the peg |
Kuhuna ki roto |
Put it in |
Tukuna |
Release, let go |
Anō |
Again |
Ahua nui rawa tēnā mātiti? |
This peg might be too big |
Me mahi tāua anō |
Let's try again |
He aha te tae ō tēnā mātiti? |
What colour is that peg? |
Whakamatuatia te ipu miraka |
Keep the milk bottle steady |
Puritia te hānara |
Hold the handle |
Nōu te wā |
Your turn |
Nōku te wā |
My turn |
Ko koe te tuatahi |
You go first |
Ko au te tuarua |
I'll go second |
Whakamātauria |
To experiment |
Takakawe |
Persist, try hard |
Mahia kia pēnei |
Do it like this |
Hōmai te... |
Give/pass me the... |
Mauria mai te... |
Bring me the... |
Whakaretiretitia |
To slide, slide down |
Haere ki roto |
In it goes |
Ruiruia te ipu |
Shake the bottle |
Haere mai ngā mātiti |
Here comes the pegs |
Tahi, rua, toru, whā |
One, two, three, four |
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