Balls On Small Pegs
A square wooden board with four small pegs holding four balls of two different sizes. The two sizes are what makes this the step after the ellipsoids: a child who has learned that a shape swallows its peg now finds that the same thing happens at two scales, and comparing the two is a question they were not asked before. Grasping a ball also needs a different hand shape than grasping an ellipsoid. Wood and plywood, for ages 0 to 3.
“Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world.”
The Balls On Small Pegs exists in Montessori environments to isolate and refine the pincer grasp movement that children will later use for writing.
- Refined pincer grasp essential for pencil holding
- Hand-eye coordination through precise ball placement
- Concentration developed through repetitive focused movements
- Spatial awareness of vertical positioning and alignment
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Each wooden ball requires precise finger positioning as the child grasps it between thumb and index finger, then carefully lowers it onto a vertical peg. This peg-and-ball design creates a clear visual feedback system - when the ball sits perfectly on its peg, the child experiences immediate success. The vertical pegs demand controlled hand movements from above, training the same downward motion used when forming letters. Through repetitive placement of balls onto pegs, children build the finger strength and coordination needed for pencil control. The material's simplicity - just balls and pegs - allows complete focus on the hand movement itself, without distraction from color matching or complex patterns. This concentrated practice with the Balls On Small Pegs transforms the abstract skill of 'preparing for writing' into a concrete, satisfying activity that children can master independently.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the peg board on a tray at the child's work table. Arrange all balls in a small basket to the right of the board. Ensure adequate lighting and a clear workspace.
- 1
Demonstrate grasping one ball with thumb and index finger, holding it directly above a peg
Move slowly and deliberately to show the precise finger positioning - 2
Lower the ball straight down onto the peg, releasing when it sits securely
Emphasize the controlled downward movement rather than dropping - 3
Continue placing balls one at a time, working systematically across the board
Allow the child to choose their own pattern - left to right, or any order they prefer - 4
Once all balls are placed, remove them one at a time back to the basket
The removal process reinforces the pincer grasp just as much as placement
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
Brands used by
schools worldwide
European brands
AMI
Endorsed
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