Materials
Piggy bank
Plastic coins in a basket
Directions
Coins in the Piggy Bank is a captivating way to get babies (12 – 18 months) practicing those fine motor skills that will help them master tasks like zipping, buttoning, writing, etc. when they’re a little older. I had a plastic piggy bank to use, but you could use an oatmeal cylinder box with a plastic lid to achieve the same effect. Just cut a slit big enough for the coins in the lid, put the lid on, and give your child the coins to insert through the slit.
What was interesting to observe when I did this activity with Baby B. was that he inserted the coins easily if the bank opening ran perpendicular to his body. Then I turned the bank a ¼ turn. Baby B. continued trying to put the coins in the bank, but could not adjust turning his hand to insert the coins. Baby C., who is 14 months, experienced similar issues. He could insert the coins from one direction only as well. We’ll try this activity again in a few months to see if the babies can compensate for the change of direction needed to insert the coins successfully.