Part II
THREE YEAR OLDS
Around the age of three, as the children become more expert
in their hand control, we start to give them things that
they will be using in kindergarten such as scissors and
pasting, which require organization. We give them programs
that are packed with opportunities to become familiar and
independent and know what to look forward to when they go
off to bigger classrooms.
The ability to cut with scissors is a culmination of several
developmental factors manifested in upper body development.
Strength in the upper torso enables a child to be able to
use both hands to control both the paper and the scissors.
If a child cannot squeeze scissors hard several times, this
may also be due to a weakness in the small muscles of the
fingers. For a child, cutting with scissors is equivalent to
a pilot flying a plane. How does he control it? What angle
does he hold it? How does he handle and adjust to the weight
and stiffness of the paper? What is he cutting out? He has
to organize his mind to work with new associations each time
he attempts to cut paper and shapes that he hasn't worked
with before. The ability to cut with scissors is a
complicated task and an indicator of proper bodily
development.
In the third year, the question may come up if it is
necessary to give them paint and paint brushes. We give it
to them but much of what they can get from the paint and
paintbrush they get from crayons. Crayons are more
beneficial at their age for hand control. Children can get
pressure control with a crayon. Brush control is difficult
at this age. They are not old enough conceptually to
understand how a brush can serve them. You can see success
in certain areas and it can be a nice experience. Usually
painting is done in a standing motion so check whether the
child is using his arms in an up motion or if children tire
from keeping their hands in this upward moving motion, and
if they are using their upper torso.
Later on, in kindergarten, paints and brushes are
experiences that include knowing how to hold the paintbrush,
the characteristics of paints, how to paint, how to identify
colors and the visual effects the motions of their brush
strokes make. They learn social and emotional control by
keeping their brushes to themselves and cleaning up
later.
YOMIM TOVIM ACTIVITIES
Representations of the festivals for small children have to
do with touching. We give children the pleasure to touch and
experience things they will see in their home on yom
tov. The backdrop of pre-school provides an opportunity
for small children to hold ceremonial objects without the
fear of breakage or danger. They see the esrog, the
menora, the dreidel, the gragger/noisemaker
and they want to know what it's all about. Here they can
touch and smell these things that are customized to the
growing needs of a young child. On Purim, give the children
cellophane paper, little ribbons and scissors. They will sit
down and try wrapping with it. Or if they are very little,
we give it to them under supervision and let them look
through it. On Chanuka, give menoras and candles and let
them touch and play with them. All the little children want
to touch a Chanuka candle, especially the colored twisted
ones. They are so appealing. On Rosh Hashana we bring in the
head of a fish and the other simonim. Before Lag
B'Omer we take a walk outdoors to pick up twigs. Making a
little bonfire would be nice but just the act of picking up
and collecting the twigs in itself is satisfying. They see
older boys and brothers collecting wood so this has
tremendous meaning for them.
Here again we see that so much starts with touching, whether
it is grabbing at colorful Chanuka candles or Purim wrapping
paper or a thick crayon. Exposure to sensory and material
elements in life at an early age provides a child with a
rich future and gives him/her information and modes of
expression that will be used for communication, thought and
language.
Devora Piha is available for next year's school programs.
All types of art/ craft/ design/ lecture/ demonstration
courses for English speakers from kindergarten to seminary
girls. 02-993-1592.
