This post may contain affiliate links. This simply means that I will earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through a link. I would and have recommended all of the products I list even without a link.
The first level is a traditional ring stacker with a twist: a rocking base and variable-width rod. This helps prevent the frustration that can occur early on from the stand falling over. In other words, a child’s movements don’t have to be precise, which is great because, at this age, they won’t be!
Primary Goals
- Develop fine motor skills.
- Develop hand-eye coordination.
- Develop hand, wrist, and finger control.
Secondary Goals
- Develop concentration and problem-solving skills.
Approximate age
8 months
Materials
The easiest solution is to purchase a rocking stacker. In an ideal world, all of the rings would be the same color, such as from this version from MontiKids, but I like the fact that these rings are rounded making them easier to grasp and, to start, we’re only using one ring so it doesn’t matter much. You could also use the ring stacker described in Level 4a, but assist by holding the base steady and tilting it towards your child.
Presentation
- Begin with only the largest ring placed on the tray next to the stand.
- Bring the tray to your child’s work area.
- Wait until your child is looking.
- Try to place the ring on the base. Don’t get it immediately.
- Bump into the stand to show how it wobbles back and forth.
- Eventually, place the ring on.
- Finally, remove the ring by pulling it off the stand.
- Repeat, this time allowing the child to take the ring off.
- Once the child shows interest, allow them to take over and move aside.
- Help the child put everything away when they are done.
Easier variations
Sometimes, stacking even a single ring may be too difficult. An easier first step is removing the rings. You could present the entire stacker with rings already on and let your child remove them. Another alternative is to have your child hand you the rings and put them on instead. Finally, if the moving base is too difficult, you can tilt it towards your child’s hand and hold it steady for them.
Extensions
You can add language on top of this by saying “on” and “off” as the child adds and removes the rings. You could also use one of the smaller rings to increase the need for precision when putting on the ring. Note: we do not want to use all of the rings at this time because it introduces size and color variations that the child is not ready for. These will be used in future levels.
