This is a great activity that will keep your little ones busy for a few days! The washing line and pegs is such a busy activity when it is out in Nursery. The children are developing so much as they play. They become so involved in this activity and it really helps to develop concentration and persistence. They are developing their language and vocabulary both socially and mathematically. They are problem solving as they play. They are developing the strength in their fingers as they peg and un peg the socks. They are developing vocabulary associated with pattern and colour. They are developing their counting through play. Children can also be encouraged to peg the items on the line going from left to right. This is an important pre reading and pre writing skill. This activity can be set up outdoors or it is a perfect rainy day activity inside!
What you need: clothes pegs, something to make a washing line (string, ribbon, rope, dressing gown rope!), socks.
Today we are going to play with socks!
Are you wearing socks now? What colour are they? Do they have a pattern? Take 1 sock off and wave it about! Spin it around in the air. Swap hands and spin it about again. I hope they aren’t smelly! Give them a little stretch. Can you put your hand inside your sock and make a puppet? Say hello to your sock – “hello!” Put your sock back on your foot and we are ready to play!
Story: Ask your grown up to go on Youtube and search for the book ‘Socks’ by Nick Sharratt. Watch the story and listen carefully. Did you see lots of colours and patterns on the socks?
Activity: Have a look at the photograph of all the socks that I found in my house. Did you find lots of socks too? What kind of socks did you find? I found long socks, short socks, stripy socks, socks all the one colour, socks with characters and sparkly socks!
Can you sort the socks out into groups?
Ask your grown up to tie up your string. You can tie it between table legs or chairs or door handles. Use the pegs and hang up your socks. Can you hang up your socks going from left to right? Can you match up the socks and put them in pairs? Can you count how many socks are on the line? Can you start with the smallest sock and get bigger and bigger?
I made some socks with paper and hung them up too!
Extension: Have another search on Youtube for the book ‘Mrs McNosh hangs up her Wash’ by Sarah Weeks. Listen very carefully because in this story Mrs McNosh hangs up some very strange things! Can you name them?
You have a go at being Mrs McNosh. What strange things can you find in your house to hang up? Have a look at what I found!
Another story to enjoy is ‘Mrs Lather’s Laundry’ by Ahlberg and Amstutz. Have a search for that on Youtube. It’s all about what Mrs Lather washes on different days of the week. Have a go at naming the days of the week as you listen to the story.
Hope you enjoy the activities as much as I did! Remember, there’s no pressure to carry out the activity, but if you do we would love to hear how you got on! Send Mrs Dalzell and me through some pictures on Seesaw, especially if you found anything strange to hang up on the line like Mrs McNosh!
Stay safe and have fun!
