locks and keys montessori

 Montessori Locks and Keys practical life activity is designed for 3-6-year-old children to teach them to lock and unlock different padlocks using its keys.

What is the Lock and Key Montessori Activity and its Purpose?

Montessori locks and keys is an open-ended practical life activity that keeps children engaged while helping them to develop fine motor skills, concentration, coordination, and independence. The practice also helps them in strengthening hand muscles and teaches patience and accuracy.

In this activity, a child will learn to open and close different types of locks with their unique key. Children will use their cognitive skills to match pieces by shape and size. These variations are appealing to children and keep them engaged.

Montessori lock and keys activity even helps in math skills such as matching, counting, sorting, sizing, making patterns, and categorizing. 

Materials Required for Locks and Keys Montessori Activity

  • Different sized locks and keys

Control of Error

The lock will only open with the right key combination. Each lock has a unique key.

How do you Introduce Locks and Keys Activity to the Child?

  1. Invite the child to the table and tell them that today, we are going to learn how to lock and unlock the padlock using its key.
  2. Ask the child to try unlocking one padlock.
  3. Now, introduce the child to unlock the padlock.
  4. Ask the child to try locking the key using different keys.
  5. Only one key will unlock the padlock.
  6. Now, invite the child to lock and unlock all the other padlocks.

Learning about how to lock and unlock padlocks teaches them the importance of safety and following rules. It also helps to develop their persistence as they learn to master the skill.

Watch the video and repeat this activity along with the child. When the child has learned this activity, you can increase the challenge and add locks and keys of different sizes to match them.

Related Video Resources : 

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Video created by: Strykun Olena

Tags

  • English
  • kindergarten
  • Practical Life
  • primary level