How to Use Chopsticks for Kids

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Train kids on how to use chopsticks. Check out this fun and easy Montessori activity that’s also an excellent fine motor skills exercise for kids as you welcome the Chinese New Year.

María Montessori discovered the excellent relationship that exists between the hand and the acquisition of new knowledge. She proposed a methodology based on children learning through their own experience.

This methodology highlights the importance of children learning based on their reality and not through subjective concepts, which can cause an effect opposite to the desired one.

The hand has a close relationship with the development of intelligence because children can explore their environment, structuring an idea of themselves and the world that surrounds them. However, for the child to explore and discover his/her world, he/she needs to strengthen his/her gross and fine motor skills.

When talking about gross motor skills, it refers to heavy movements of the body, which require strength, balance, and precision, such as: running, jumping, or throwing a ball. Fine motor skills refer to small and precise movements in which children use the body’s small muscles such as the hands, fingers, feet, and mouth.

According to the above, it can be concluded that the stimulation of fine motor skills has great importance in children’s cognitive development. That’s why the Montessori learning method proposes practical life activities focused on developing children’s motor skills.

Although these activities are designed to strengthen fine motor skills, they also develop autonomy, independence, order, patience, and cordiality skills necessary for building a good society.

THEME: HOW TO USE CHOPSTICKS FINE MOTOR SKILLS MONTESSORI ACTIVITY

HOW DO WE DO THIS ACTIVITY?

Topic: Fine motor skills

Age: 4-6-year-old children

Goal: Through this how to use chopsticks activity, the children will develop precision in their hands and fingers’ movements.

Difficulty level: Advanced. This how to use chopsticks activity is designed for children to carry out autonomously by following instructions and being with an adult.

Skills:

Precision in the movements of their hands and fingers
Following instructions
Focus
Recognizing colors
Following patterns

MATERIALS

A bowl with rice
Twochopsticks
Soda lids
Cardstock with some circles previously drawn

ACTIVITY DEVELOPMENT

Step 1:

With the chopsticks, take the lids located on the bowl with rice.

Step 2:

Place the lids on the cardstock according to their color.

ACTIVITY RESULT

How to use chopsticks by placing lids onto cardstock paper using chopsticks

FREE PRINTABLE WORKSHEETS

After teaching kids how to use chopsticks give them another fun activity to do. Click the link below to download and print the free printable worksheets to help them practice their fine motor skills.

Download the Free Printable Worksheets for Preschoolers

HOW DO WE DO THIS HOW TO USE CHOPSTICKS ACTIVITY WITH CHILDREN OF DIFFERENT AGES??

CHANGES FOR CHILDREN UNDER 4 YEARS OLD

This how to use chopsticks activity can be developed with younger children. To lower the difficulty level of it, children can place the lids with a tweezer to improve their fine motor skills. This way, a kid activity will be carried out according to the children’s development and abilities.

CHANGES FOR CHILDREN OLDER THAN 6

This how to use chopsticks activity can be done with older children. To increase the difficulty level, you will need to change materials. In this case, children must be more accurate in their movements. This way, an activity will be carried out according to the children’s development and abilities.

VIDEO DESCRIPTION – HOW TO USE CHOPSTICKS

In this how to use chopsticks video, you will find the step-by-step “LET’S USE THE CHOPSTICKS” activity, designed for boys and girls from 4 to 6 years old. Here, children will transfer some objects from one place to the other. This how to use chopsticks activity will allow children to develop skills such as precision in the movements of their hands and fingers, following instructions, focus, recognizing colors, and following patterns. The materials needed are a bowl with rice, two chopsticks, soda lids, and a cardstock sheet with some circles previously drawn.

Do you like this how to use chopsticks fine motor skills activity? Make sure to check out our other activities for kids.

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Give kids fun craft to do. Check out this Clever Handprint Dinosaur Craft for Kids Montessori Activity with Printable Worksheets (4-6 Year Olds)
Let kids have fun with the Quick Green as a Dinosaur Craft for Toddlers Sensorial Activity for Kids to Explore and Have Fun with Printable Worksheets (1-2 Year Olds)

Get super cute outfit for your little ones, check out this Bling in the New Year Bodysuit.

I’d like to know what you think of our how to use chopsticks activity for preschoolers. Please leave a comment below.

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Liliana

Liliana is a Licensed Montessori teacher known for her passion and dedication to education. She's been a teacher in the United States for many years, and she truly believes that education is the key to making the world a better place because today's students are tomorrow's leaders. Her experience with Toddlers, Beginners, VPK with Montessori methodology approach; Kindergarten, and first grade made her an authority and trusted resource. Liliana's family taught her important qualities like love, a positive attitude, strong motivation, and leadership. These values have guided her on her journey to becoming a professional and expert teacher. Her mission is to help children grow and contribute to a brighter future for the country.