Pin Poking Activities And Free Printables

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Pushpin (or pin poking) activity is one of the popular fine motor activities in the Montessori classroom. I would like to share with you different ways to use pins and pin poking which greatly benefit the child’s development. You will find that pins are often used in activities for different purposes.

Push pinning is a popular Montessori activity that involves using a push pin to create designs or letters on a piece of paper. This activity helps children develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. It also fosters creativity and allows for self-expression. To ensure safety, children are taught the proper use and handling of the push pin and are always supervised during this activity. Push pinning is a fun and engaging way for children to explore their artistic abilities while also promoting their physical and cognitive development.

By using push pins to create designs on a board, children improve their ability to grasp small objects, manipulate them with precision, and focus on a task for an extended period of time. Additionally, push pinning can also enhance a child’s sense of order, as they must follow a pattern and complete each step before moving on to the next.

Some examples of push pinning activities include tracing and coloring designs on paper with a push pin, creating art with pinboards, and pinning letters or numbers to match with their corresponding pictures. These activities also encourage creativity and independent exploration, as children are free to create their own designs and patterns with the push pins. Overall, push pinning activities are a fun and beneficial way for children to learn and develop important skills.

how pin activities benefit a child’s development

help develop deeper concentration
prepare for writing
enjoyed by children
exercise patience and attention to detail
help perfect fine motor
strengthen finger muscles

there are many variations of pin-poking activities

The metal inset extension activity – the child pin pokes the shape after tracing a metal inset shape.
The knob puzzle extension activity – the child pin pokes outline after tracing a shape.
Pin-poke a picture outline.

Here are a few examples of introducing pin activities to children

Here is a way to present Montessori push pinning to a child:

Introduce the child to the activity and explain what push pinning is.
Show the child how to hold the push pin and demonstrate how to use it to create a pattern or design on a corkboard.
Allow the child to try it for themselves, offering assistance if needed.
As they become more comfortable, encourage them to experiment with creating different designs and patterns.
Emphasize the importance of safety and proper use of the push pin throughout the activity.
Finally, praise and celebrate the child’s achievements and efforts, acknowledging their creativity and perseverance in completing the activity.

PRESCHOOLER

Print a picture outline on regular paper or construction paper and cut cards to match your push pin mat size. Place cards in a box on a tray along with a push pin or the Montessori puncher, corkboard, or wool mat to absorb the pricks of the poking stylus.

Invite the child to punch holes in the line and take him or her to the window to look through the light and make sure the holes are close together. Show them how to gently tear punched shape from the rest of the paper, get a glue stick, and glue it to the construction paper. The child may also like to color the shape first.

As I mentioned earlier children often enjoy pin-poking continents of the world after working with the Montessori Continent Knob Puzzle. However, this can be done with every puzzle that has knobs. Puzzle pieces with knobs make it easier for children to trace outlines.

A video introduction of pin poking activity

Montessori Practical Life Lesson – Pin Poking by My Works Montessori

Free Printables Designed by Montessori Nature

10 thoughts on “Pin Poking Activities And Free Printables”

Every Star Is Different
October 5, 2014 at 2:49 am

Very cool! I haven't done much with pin poking at all. I LOVE these ideas!
MontessoriNature
October 7, 2014 at 3:14 am

For some reason kids love these too! I am so glad you were inspired to do more pin poking with your kids! Thank you for stopping by!
Kylie @ Octavia and Vicky
October 9, 2014 at 6:23 am

These are so cool! We did some tooth pick poking with my daughter's name, she loved it, I'm sure she'll love these ideas too.
MontessoriNature
October 9, 2014 at 9:13 am

Thank you so much, Kyle, for sharing your experience! I love the idea of using tooth picks for poking! I never tried it before!
Janice
October 9, 2014 at 10:18 am

Oh, I just adore this post! Thanks for the printable, they will be very useful for home and the classroom.
pauline@lessonslearntjournal.com
October 12, 2014 at 6:09 am

Fab, fab resource. Thank you! Pinned. xo P
MontessoriNature
October 12, 2014 at 6:52 am

Thank you, Janice, I hope you enjoy using these materials!
MontessoriNature
October 12, 2014 at 6:52 am

Many thanks, Pauline!
katef
October 13, 2014 at 12:35 am

My four year old loves using push pins to make his own geoboard type thing… he'd love this activity! thanks!
Stacylee Pillay
April 27, 2020 at 2:14 am

Love this!

Comments are closed.

Pin Poking Activities And Free Printables

how pin activities benefit a child’s development

there are many variations of pin-poking activities

Here are a few examples of introducing pin activities to children

PRESCHOOLER

A video introduction of pin poking activity

Push Pinning Resources for Children

Push pinning printables free printables

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Free Printables Designed by Montessori Nature

10 thoughts on “Pin Poking Activities And Free Printables”