Thinking handsImagine · 24–36 months

Birds on the nest

Clothespins 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 clothespins and shoebox.

In the app, one activity a day for their age →

What do I need?

• 5–6 clothespins
• Shoebox

How do I do it?

1. 01

   Set up the nest

   Put an empty shoebox and 5 or 6 clothespins on the floor, within your little one's reach. Introduce the game: “These clothespins are birds. Let's help them land on the edge of their nest.”

2. 02

   Show them the beak

   Pick up a clothespin and squeeze the end with two fingers so the beak opens. Clip it onto the edge of the box and let go slowly.

3. 03

   Let them try

   Hand them a clothespin and watch as they hold the box with one hand and open the beak with the other. If the clothespin 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. 04

   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. 05

   Pack up the nest

   Put the clothespins back in the box together once they lose interest. Play again another day.

What are they learning?

To open the clothespin, 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 clothespin stays put.

• Bilateral coordination

  Holds the box with one hand while opening and clipping the clothespin with the other

• Hand-eye coordination

  Looks at the edge of the box and lets go of the clothespin right where they want it

• Pincer grasp

  Squeezes the clothespin's beak between thumb and index finger until it opens

What the research says

1. Where babies' ability to use both hands together comes from

   Corbetta & Thelen · 1996

2. Eye-hand teamwork in newborn babies

   von Hofsten · 1982

3. A fresh look at a classic study of how babies learn to grasp

   Butterworth et al. · 1997

See all 6 references

1. 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 doi.org/10.1037/0096-1523.22.2.502
2. 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 doi.org/10.1002/dev.20428
3. von Hofsten C. Eye-hand coordination in the newborn. Developmental Psychology. 1982;18(3):450-461. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.18.3.450 doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.18.3.450
4. 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 doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2010.07.007
5. 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 doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-835X.1997.tb00736.x
6. 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 doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2012.05.006

Reviewed by Javier Atance Ibar, PhD in Education