# Birds on the nest

Clothes pegs turn into birds that land on the edge of a box, and your little one squeezes each beak open to clip it on.

To do with your toddler between 2 and 3 years old. It works on: bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination and pincer grasp. You'll need: 5–6 clothes pegs and shoebox.

## What do I need?

- 5–6 clothes pegs
- Shoebox

## How do I do it?

1. **Set up the nest.** Put an empty shoebox and 5 or 6 clothes pegs on the floor, within your little one's reach. Introduce the game: “These clothes pegs are birds. Let's help them land on the edge of their nest.”
2. **Show them the beak.** Pick up a clothes peg and squeeze the end with two fingers so the beak opens. Clip it onto the edge of the box and let go slowly.
3. **Let them try.** Hand them a clothes peg and watch as they hold the box with one hand and open the beak with the other. If the clothes peg pops off or won't open all the way, wait and give a hint: “Squeeze the bird's beak hard.” Don't open it for them.
4. **Celebrate each bird.** Tell them what they did once the first one stays on: “You squeezed the beak and the bird's on its nest.” Keep going until every bird is sitting on the edge.
5. **Pack up the nest.** Put the clothes pegs back in the box together once they lose interest. Play again another day.

### Another way to play

Once they've got the hang of it, ask them to take the birds off the edge one at a time, squeezing each beak, and drop them into the nest.

## What are they learning?

To open the clothes peg, they have to squeeze the beak between thumb and index finger. Meanwhile, the other hand holds the box, so each hand does a different job. They also look at the edge to decide where to let go so the clothes peg stays put.

- **Bilateral coordination**: Holds the box with one hand while opening and clipping the clothes peg with the other
- **Hand-eye coordination**: Looks at the edge of the box and lets go of the clothes peg right where they want it
- **Pincer grasp**: Squeezes the clothes peg's beak between thumb and index finger until it opens

## What the research says

- Corbetta D, Thelen E. The developmental origins of bimanual coordination: a dynamic perspective. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. 1996;22(2):502-522. doi:10.1037/0096-1523.22.2.502 (https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-1523.22.2.502)
- Kimmerle M, Ferre CL, Kotwica KA, Michel GF. Development of role-differentiated bimanual manipulation during the infant's first year. Developmental Psychobiology. 2010;52(2):168-180. doi:10.1002/dev.20428 (https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.20428)
- von Hofsten C. Eye-hand coordination in the newborn. Developmental Psychology. 1982;18(3):450-461. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.18.3.450 (https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.18.3.450)
- Berthier NE, Carrico RL. Visual information and object size in infant reaching. Infant Behavior and Development. 2010;33(4):555-566. doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2010.07.007 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2010.07.007)
- Butterworth G, Verweij E, Hopkins B. The development of prehension in infants: Halverson revisited. British Journal of Developmental Psychology. 1997;15(2):223-236. doi:10.1111/j.2044-835X.1997.tb00736.x (https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-835X.1997.tb00736.x)
- Sacrey L-AR, Karl JM, Whishaw IQ. Development of rotational movements, hand shaping, and accuracy in advance and withdrawal for the reach-to-eat movement in human infants aged 6–12 months. Infant Behavior and Development. 2012;35(3):543-560. doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2012.05.006 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2012.05.006)

Reviewed by Javier Atance Ibar, PhD in Education.

https://papakoala.com/en-gb/activities/birds-on-the-nest/