The Horizontal Dowel Variation – Straight is a sophisticated fine motor material designed for toddlers between 15 and 20 months. It marks a significant transition in the Montessori “stacking and threading” sequence by moving the challenge from a vertical plane to a horizontal one.
While vertical dowels rely on gravity to help the object find its home, the horizontal dowel requires the child to actively push the object across a bridge, demanding a higher level of motor planning.
$15.21
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In stock
Purchase this item and get 1 Bead - a worth of Wrist Rotation (Pronation & Supination): To slide a disc onto a horizontal peg, the Child must rotate their wrist 90 degrees. This movement is essential for future self-care tasks like turning a doorknob, using a key, or scooping with a spoon.
Bilateral Coordination: This material encourages “two-handed” work. A toddler will often use one hand to steady the wooden base while the other hand performs the precise threading movement.
Crossing the Midline: As the Child reaches across the base to retrieve or place discs, they practice crossing the body’s midline, which is vital for brain development and coordinating the left and right hemispheres.
Spatial Depth Perception: Aligning a hole with a peg pointing sideways is more visually complex than a peg pointing up, as it requires the Child to judge distance and depth from a different perspective.
The Base: A sturdy wooden block that remains stationary.
The Dowel: A single, straight metal dowel fixed horizontally to the base.
The Disc: The disc is circular, as the round shape allows the Child to focus purely on the horizontal alignment without worrying about corners or edges.
Preparation: Place the material on a low table. Remove the disc and place it to the left of the base.
The Grip: Pick up the disc with your dominant hand.
The Rotation: Slowly and deliberately turn your wrist so the hole of the disc faces the tip of the horizontal dowel.
The Slide: Thread the disc onto the dowel and slide it all the way to the base.
Completion: To finish, show the Child how to slide it back off before inviting them to try.
The horizontal dowel is the second stage in a three-part developmental sequence:
Vertical Dowel: Up-and-down movement (Mastery of the “drop”).
Horizontal Dowel (Straight): (This material) Mastery of wrist rotation and sideways movement.
Curved/Serpentine Dowel: Mastery of complex, multi-directional movement (threading an object around a curve).
The “Straight” variation isolates the challenge of rotation. Once the Child’s wrist is flexible enough to turn the disc 90 degrees and push it in a straight line, they are then ready for the Curved Dowel, which requires them to change their hand position multiple times to navigate a bend in the wood.
Size: 15cm x 15cm x 12cm (6″ x 6″ x 5″)
One of the attractions to the Montessori Method is the extensive use of wood.
We use several types of wood, sourced from renewable sources, in the production of our Montessori Materials.
We ensure that the coatings and inks used are not only eco-friendly, but also non-toxic.
Our wooden products are manufactured by responsible partner factories both locally and abroad and ensure that fair labour practices are adopted.
Care instructions for Childrens House Wooden Materials:
Order R1000 worth of items to qualify for free shipping to your door anywhere in South Africa.
Transit times depend on your location:
Feel free to email us should you require any further information.
We offer free delivery to the USA:
Should you require further information about shipping charges, please feel free to contact us at info@childrenshouse.co.za
Further Reading and Resources:
| Weight | 0.31 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 16 × 16 × 13 cm |
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