Woodpeckers offer an excellent example of persistence for kids to learn about and practice within their play. In this activity, we invite kids to play like woodpeckers, using tools to peck their way into various materials.
The Guide
Step 1: Watch the Tinkergarten Home "Woodpecker’s Work" video lesson.
Hop into your Tinkergarten dashboard to watch the "Woodpecker’s Work" video lesson. Kids can watch how Meghan and other explorers peck, peck peck into the winter world around them, then get inspired to play like persistent woodpeckers, too.
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Step 2: Gather materials for woodpecker play.
Gather a few materials kids can peck into, such as:
Cardboard boxes
Potatoes
Citrus
A pumpkin
Forest putty (or play-dough)
The ground (if it is soft enough)
Gather some toolskids can use to peck holes, such as:
A rock and a strong stick
A wooden mallet and golf tees (our favorite woodpecker play tools!)
Step 3: Model.
Model for kids how to safely use the tools to tap into the objects you gathered. To support wee ones, pre-poke some holes for them to tap into. You can also offer younger kids a chance to poke holes in a softer material like forest putty.
Step 4: Play and Support.
Offer the woodpecker tools to kids and welcome them to start pecking! As they play, slowly introduce new objects for them to peck into (e.g. an egg carton, cardboard box, forest putty, the ground, potato, citrus, pumpkin).
Step 5: Experiment and extend.
As kids “peck" at different types of objects, welcome them to share what they notice. Are some things easier to peck than others? How are the things they are pecking into changing?
For an extra challenge, invite kids to peck shapes or designs into the materials. (See our Pumpkin Lantern DIY activity for more ideas!) Once kids have pecked a bunch of holes, what can they stick in them (e.g twigs, small stones)?
Why is this activity great for kids?
Repetitive woodpecker play gives kids all of the brain and cognitive benefits of repetition, while also giving them the chance to practice hand-eye coordination, as well as gross and fine motor skills. Learning to safely use tools to poke holes in objects allows kids to find their own limits and builds their self-confidence. And, if pecking into a certain object is challenging, kids will tap into problem solving and flexible thinking skills in order to persist!
We think of self control as a child’s ability to focus on something in such a way that maximizes learning. In order to do that, they first need to direct their attention and focus on a single thing. They also need to discern which information around them is most important and deserving of their attention. Thirdly, they need something called “inhibition.” Think of inhibition as the ability to control impulses, block out distractions and continue attending to the same thing. Focus, discerning and inhibition all require rather fancy brain work and are thought to be part of the “executive functions” or the set of cognitive processes involving the prefrontal cortex that help us manage ourselves and the environment to achieve a goal.
Why does it matter?
Our world is full of distractions, more today than ever. Kids who are in any learning situation need the ability to control their impulses, block out noise and attend to the person, objects, events, or discussions that are central to learning. As classroom teachers, we saw that kids who did this ruled the classroom. As outdoor educators and parents, we know the same holds true outside of school.
But don’t take our word for it; the research is impressive. It turns out that these executive function skills are closely tied to success in the classroom, higher level education and life beyond school. Experts like Adele Diamond of the University of British Columbia have shown that, “If you look at what predicts how well children will do later in school, more and more evidence is showing that executive functions—working memory and inhibition—actually predict success better than IQ tests.” Although these skills are difficult for young children and don’t crystallize until adulthood, the more kids practice them, the better at them kids become.
Fine Motor
Category:
Body Skills
What are Fine Motor skills?
Fine motor skills refer to how we coordinate small muscle movements in the hands and fingers in conjunction with our eyes. Children begin with whole arm movements at birth and refine their movement, using smaller muscle groups as their bodies develop. With time and practice, children are able to enhance and strengthen the movements in their fingers, becoming able to manipulate small objects and perform a range of important life and learning tasks.
Why does it matter?
Kids need fine motor skills in order to perform every day tasks like using fork and knife, turning a door knob, cutting with scissors and catching and throwing a ball. These same skills are essential for tasks associated with higher level learning like hand writing and typing on a keyboard. If kids enter school without good fine motor skills, they can not only fall behind, but learning can become very frustrating. Moreover, they can develop lasting negative attitudes towards learning and themselves as learners.
Persistence & Grit
Category:
Social Skills
What are Persistence & Grit?
A persistent person can continue on a given course of action in spite of challenges or barriers that arise. In other words, persistence is the ability to stick with something and keep trying. It's partner, grit, is the strength of character, and sometimes courage, to allow one to persist. Those who possess grit don't mind rolling up their sleeves, focusing on the task at hand, and sticking with it to completion despite the challenges that come their way.
Why does it matter?
Talent is helpful, but it's hard work, persistence and grit that unlock talent and turn capable people into success stories. As Thomas Edison so famously said, "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." Practice with being persistent, including the chance to struggle and learn how to overcome struggle, will help kids later have ability to wade through and make sense of confusing new information, navigate difficult situations, and solve tough problems.
Further, studies like those discussed in Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's NurtureShock tell us that kids will actually perform better when we praise their hard work instead of just telling them how smart or great they are. As parents, we also tend to offer kids activities which are enjoyable and attainable and, as such, too easy. Bear in mind that if we spare them frustration, we actually deny them the chance to work hard and develop persistence and grit.
Age: 0 to 8+
Time: 1 hour+
Materials: Sticks and rocks; mallets and golf tees; potatoes, forest putty and/or cardboard boxes
