FM.H.65 PUTS TOGETHER 4 NESTING CUPS
This is an extension of FM.H.39 (nesting 2 cups). Now the child has 4 cups to nest together.
Choose 4 cups that fit loosely into each other, for example every second cup from a set.
How to Assess
Materials: A set of 4 loosely fitting cups, as described above.
Method: Spread the cups on the table in front of your child. Say ‘Look, I can put them together’. Demonstrate. Separate cups, placing them in random order. Say ‘You put them together’. Give 3 tries.
Score plus if your child puts the nesting toy together, without physical or verbal help, in 2 out of the 3 tries.
How to Teach
You can work through three steps in teaching this skill.
- Puts together a two-part nesting toy (as in FM.H.39).
- Puts together a three-part nesting toy.
- Puts together a four-part nesting toy.
In all steps, start by saying ‘Find the big one’. When your child has found it, say ‘Put it here’, pointing to the middle of the table. Indicate the remaining cups, and say: ‘Now which is the big one? Put it in.’ Continue until only one cup remains.
If your child chooses the wrong cup, let him go ahead, so that he learns for himself that it won’t work. Say: ‘Doesn’t fit! Try another one.’
When your child has put all the cups together, help him to shake them so that he gets a feel for the finished product. This is reinforcing, too.
Playtime and Round-the-house Activities
The kitchen cupboards are a good source of alternative materials. A set of mixing bowls works very well. Outside, you could use empty plant pots.
Remembering and Extending
Once your child has mastered this skill, you can add more cups to his set.
Many sets of nesting cups are designed so that they can also be stacked up to make a tower. As your child progresses through this sequence, look for other toys which involve putting things together in order of size. These include jigsaw puzzles which show a row of the same object in different sizes, and rings which fit over a tapered stick.