FM.E.34 PUSHES A TOY TRAIN OR CAR

Discovering the intended purposes of toys and everyday objects is a crucial part of early learning. Pushing a toy car is a good place to start, because it is a useful play skill and it involves a new Fine Motor action. It requires the child to exert downward and horizontal pressure at the same time.

How to Assess

Materials: A toy car or train with a straightforward wheel action (not the pull-back kind).

Method: Demonstrate the action to the child and wait for him to copy you, or observe him as he plays with the car.

Score plus if your child pushes the toy several times in a purposeful way.

How to Teach

Use demonstrations, as much physical help as is needed and lots of ‘brmm-brimm’s’.

We have had success with cars that offer a slight resistance when pushed (the kind that can be revved up by a series of forward pushes). Feeling the vibration through their hands can help children to get the idea. Cars which make a noise when moving can also be very satisfying. But if these cars are not the in thing at the moment they will be hard to find in the shops, so persevere with what you have.

Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

This is another activity in which brothers and sisters can readily take part.

Try sitting your child at the higher end of a piece of Masonite set on a slight slope, so that when he lets his cargo it will roll down.

Push the car up and down your legs, then his, so that he experiences the effect in a different way.

Remembering and Extending

Once your child can push a car, include cars, trucks and trains of all sorts among his toys.

Introduce him to other objects which are used for specific purposes or to create certain effects.These could include a hairbrush, a spoon, a cup, a toy plastic knife, a hat, a whistle, a push-down spinning top. (Refer to PS.A.22.)