Hanging socks on a clothesline with clothespins. That seems pretty simple!

And it is, but it also helps your child practice some great life skills. Here are a few options for setting up this activity along with the skills your child will practice.

Clothespins + Socks Activity

Set Up:

Child-sized drying rack: If you’d like a more permanent laundry station for your child, invest in a small drying rack like this one. Take it outdoors in summer with a basket of clothespins nearby!
String it up: If you’d like a more ad hoc set up, simply use some twine or sturdy string you have at home and tie a line between two supports like a chair back or table legs. You might have to put this up and take it down as needed, but your child can still practice!

Skills:

Pincer Grip: When your child squeezes a clothespin to open it, they are honing important fine motor skills. This will help later on when gripping a pencil!
Practical Life: Hanging up clothes to dry is an extremely practical task that your child can take pride in. Also known as “care of the environment”, these types of responsibility give your child ownership over their home.
Gross Motor: Let your child move big muscles by caring a laundry basket to and from the laundry area of your home. Great for cold days when running around outside isn’t an option!
Following Steps: Make this an activity in which your child can perform a sequence of events. Children love order, so go step by step with them: First, we take the socks out of the washer. Next, we carry them to the drying rack. Lastly, we pin them up to dry.

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