Category:Polishing leaves

PLANT POLISHING

This activity:
 * Ages 3 and up
 * indirect preparation for writing
 * respect for plants
 * care of the environment
 * refined handling of delicate things
 * fine motor control
 * control of movement

You will need:
 * Plant
 * Q-tips (cotton swabs)
 * handy wipes or thick paper towel cut into small 2x2 inch squares
 * water
 * small sponge

Take the q-tip, and dip into the water and hold it as you would a pencil. Gently polish a leaf of the plant. This is indirect preparation for writing as the way you hold the q-tip is the way you would later hold a pencil. Take all the water off with the sponge (doing it lightly so as not to harm the plant) and polish it gently with the handy wipe.

This exercise teaches the child to be gentle with holding the materials and different parts of the plant (the stems and leaves). It is a very calming and soothing exercise for children.