The peg challenge

The peg challenge is a classic Montessori-inspired practical life activity that encourages independence while strengthening fine motor skills. It’s ideal for young children who love to explore how things work – and perfect for supporting early writing development through play.

What you’ll need:

• A sturdy bowl or tub
• A small tray to work on
• Wooden or plastic clothes pegs

Let’s get started:

• Place the bowl on a tray or table.
• Invite your child to clip the pegs, one at a time, around the rim of the bowl.
• They’ll need to use their fingers to open and close the pegs – this is great for practising the pincer grip.

It might seem simple but mastering the ‘open and close’ action of pegs builds hand strength and coordination, setting the foundation for holding a pencil later on.

Learning benefits:

Direct learning includes:

• Understanding how pegs work
• Exploring everyday tools
• Indirect learning supports:
• Finger and hand strength
• Dexterity and coordination
• Developing the all-important pincer grip
• Discovering cause and effect (early stem learning)

Ideas to extend the activity:

• Set up a mini washing line outdoors – can your child peg up socks or cloths?
• Use a washable marker to draw small dots around the rim of the bowl – can your child match the pegs to the dots?
• Challenge older children to use two pegs at once – one in each hand!

No fancy pegs? No problem!

Use whatever you have – sturdy pegs from the laundry basket work perfectly. A cardboard box or plastic tub can replace the bowl if needed.

Safety first:

Always supervise children when using small parts like pegs, and clear the activity away once finished.