Sally Haughey

In my Waldorf training, the young child's development of the fine motor skills was viewed as more important than teaching rote skills(such as recognizing the sounds of the letters). Philipp Martzog, a researcher, found that better fine motor skills in the early years might have a direct relationship to higher intelligence level and specifically – deductive thinking. In the Waldorf schools, the development of the hand includes finger knitting in kindergarten and actually knitting in first grade. I found in my kindergarten, children found deep satisfaction with learning how to finger knit and making bracelets.

It is important to offer art experiences that children can bring their own ideas to test and explore. I love introducing monoprinting to children as it gives them such a powerful process of creating art. For this activity I will put out a variety of loose parts for the children to explore mark making with. One day we mono print, the next day we use markers on the print and finally another day we collage on top.

This gray mortar and pestle set is one of the most common that I find at garage sales and thrift shops. I will warn you – the children can break the marble, ceramic and Molcajete mortar & pestle sets. I love this simple slab of rock with a round rock for a DIY mortar and pestle. Jenni, a colleague and member of the Fairy Dust team – purchased a large four-cup capacity Mortar and Pestle set for outdoor play.

A simple movable mud kitchen provides children with the raw materials to create whatever they can imagine. A bench or plank of wood sitting on top of cinder blocks or stack of wood. A simple plank of wood sitting on cinder blocks or wood pieces. Inside this issue I share some of my favorite messy play activities for water, mud, clay, petals and more.