Parenting

Improving Verbal & Motor Skills with Gravel Art

Stones. Everywhere stones. In pockts, in the washing machine, in the car. No matter where we go or what we do, stones get brought home by the boys.

At lunchtime the other day Number Two announced he had brought a few handfuls of gravel home from the playground we had visited on Sunday. Would I please play with him and make people out of the stones? he asked.

It was one of those occasions where it was on the tip of my tongue to say no, but then I mentally slapped the back of my hand, gave myself a shake and told myself to play with my child.

I am so glad I did. We told stories, made pictures and, most importantly, had fun together. Just the two of us.  And he needs that. In fact, I do too. He’s growing up so fast. In a few months he’ll be a schoolboy and playing with his mammy won’t hold the same appeal it does now.

IMG_20160412_132336

As we played, I noticed how tricky it was to pick up the little pieces of gravel. The longer we played, the easier it got. So it seems like a great way to improve fine motor skills.

Verbal skills can also be trained by making up stories of the pictures you create.  Number Two made two little figures which, he informed me, were knights.

IMG_20160412_130424IMG_20160412_130452

Then he equipped them with swords and shields. We built hills for them to stand on to keep watch and a sun to shine down on them. Then a dragon crept up on the knights, so we built a castle for them to retreat to.

IMG_20160412_131512

It was all so easy. So fuss free. No mess, spilled water or stains on clothes. Just creativity, imagination, an improved pincer grip and twosomeness. And a jar of gravel for the next time.

8 thoughts on “Improving Verbal & Motor Skills with Gravel Art

  1. DD used to sit in the garden licking her favourite stones and lining them up like chessmen. She was very particular about which stones made the cut. Glad you took time out to slow down!

  2. That is a really lovely way to spend the time. I say no too quickly always looking at things that need to be done instead of enjoying spending time with the little dude. He won’t be little for long and like you said playing in the dirt with Mama won’t have as much appeal soon.

    1. It gets to be routine, doesn’t it, automatically saying no. Sometimes we really can’t, others we don’t feel like it but sometimes it is just s default answer.
      Do try to say yes more often. You’ll be glad you did.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.