Material Description:
A tray with dust, a small sponge and a small bucket, made of plastic or metal and cleaning fluid in a bottle with a dropper lid.
Presentation:
- With the child examine a tray or other area for dust, decide to clean it
- Ask the child to get a small sponge and to half fill a bucket with water and a new drops of cleaning fluid from a bottle with a pipette
- Put the sponge into the water and squeeze it out, leaving the sponge wet but not dripping
- Place the sponge on the tray at the top left corner
- With the right hand move the sponge towards the base left corner
- Lift the sponge and show the child the dirt
- Bring it back to the top left edge, overlapping it with part of the area that has already been cleaned, repeat the action each time moving further to the right.
- Rinse the sponge in the water and squeeze firmly
- Inspect the tray, keeping the head and eyes level with the surface
- Let the child get a fresh sponge and a bucket of clean water and repeat
- Tell the child to wash her hands
Points of Interest:
- The vertical dust-line left at the left edge
- Be careful to keep the bucket at such a distance that it is unlikely to be knocked over
- Squeeze the sponge well
- Be careful in this area until it is dried, if it is very wet wipe the water away with a dry cloth
Purpose:
- Co-ordination of Movement
- Independence
- Concentration
- Social Adaptation
Age at Presentation:
Two and a half years
Footnote:
- The child must be familiar with using a dropper bottle and carrying a bucket
- Shelves and their undersides can be sponged by children after they have removed the objects, placing them on mats or tables while they clean
- Other flat surfaces such as deep windowsills, table tops, sinks and shelves could be used
- This activity will prepare the child for scrubbing a table and cleaning the floor with a cloth