While designing Practical Life or Sensorial activities for children, Dr. Maria Montessori’s sole ambition was to teach them something unique through hands-on learning. Montessori zipping activity or zipper frame activity is one such activity that helps young children enhance hand-eye coordination and refine fine motor skills.
Montessori-inspired parents and Montessori educators perform this simple yet effective activity with their children or students, using a zipper frame or a child-sized jacket.
I don’t deny that as a Montessori educator I get numerous opportunities to engage in this activity with my students. Furthermore, I have had the chance to introduce this activity to my children when they were preschoolers.
Such being the case, I have enough experience and expertise to guide you with the Montessori Zipping activity along with its benefits, purpose, and control of error.
Zipping Activity Montessori Instructions:
To introduce zipping activity, I generally take a Montessori Zipper frame and ask my students to have a look at it.
Next, I tell them that I am going to show them how to zip and unzip a fabric.
Then I place the frame in front of them. In addition, I tell them to watch the direction of the zip (from bottom to top).
Next, I gently push the knob of the zipper downward. Moving slowly I start to unzip from top to bottom. After that, I open the zip until I reach the lock or lower end.
Then, I unfold the fabric and let the children see the open zip. In the end, I return the flaps back in their original position.
Next, I hold the knob with my right hand and place the two fingers of my left hand on the corners of the flap.
Finally, I close the zip making sure that it does not get stuck in between.
Thus, I finish the demonstration process and invite my children or my students to try this activity.
Zipper Frame Montessori Purpose And Benefits:
Undeniably, the Montessori zipper frame activity helps young children enhance their hand-eye coordination, and independence.
It is also helpful for strengthening children’s finger dexterity and building confidence in self-care activities like dressing independently.
Zipper Frame Montessori Control Of Error :
A child will be capable of seeing if the zipper is properly aligned and closed. If the zipper frame does not function properly, the child will self-correct it through repeated practice.
Sumanta De is an educator. He has been teaching students for more than 16 years following the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori. He has a 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter.
He is nurturing his children abiding by the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori. His passion for Montessori methods goes beyond the classroom.
Hence, he shares his experiences and insights through a dedicated Montessori blog and a YouTube channel under the name “NewChild Montessori”. He aims to offer valuable guidance to both parents and educators.
Education: M.A. English, Masters in Child Psychology & Bachelor’s Degree in Montessori Teachers Training