This is a great activity for children who like to take things apart, or deconstruct them. Our first inclination was to set this up for RLs youngest as a simple, fine motor activity. Well, we found it was too difficult for little hands/fingers to take the swords out of the pumpkin. So, I set this up for my son, just to see what he would do with it. I used cocktail swords (is that what they are called???), a screwdriver to poke holes in the pumpkin, and a pumpkin (obviously). The first time, he just took the swords out and sorted them into colors on his own. Then he put the swords back in (that part was fun, too) and ran and got his NUMBER PLATES for counting. (I quickly realized that numbers 1-10 are way too easy for him.)
RL decided to search for a foam pumpkin….and found one at the Dollar Tree. She set this up for her girls and it was a huge hit! She also added her own twist to the counting by using foam circles. I mean, what child does not like poking holes with swords?? Good form, RL, good form! :)
- AK/RL