Learning to Scoop: a practical life skill

Learning to scoop is a perfect activity for summer days.

I am having the.best.time working on life skills with my youngest (17 months). She’s hit that critical point where she’s taste testing less, not immediately trying to eat supplies, and actually very interested in learning. Our latest adventure: learning to scoop water and transfer it.

Summer is the perfect time for water activities like this and you never know what your young toddler can master until you let them try. Learning to scoop has been a great lesson for my daughter – and is the perfect “little sibling” to my viral Pouring Station activity.

Learning to scoop is an easy activity to prep!

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• Storage tubs
• Measuring cups
• Water

The set up for this kind of activity is so simple. I used my trusty under the bed storage tub as the base for the activity. Inside that tub, I placed two smaller plastic containers: one full of water and one empty. Inside the water filled container, I left a few measuring cups.

The goal with this activity: introduce the concept of scooping water and transferring it to the empty tub. This may seem like a simple skill, but it’s huge to a 17 month old and requires lots of hand-eye coordination.

First, I modeled how to scoop water. She thought this was great just seeing the measuring cups filling with water! Then, I showed her how to move the water-filled cup over into the empty bin.

Once she took over – oh the pride and happiness! She was beside herself! The giggles, the excitement. It’s amazing how much joy a little water scooping can bring.

I’ve seen her using her new scooping skill all over the place since our mini lesson: she scooped water in the bath tub and I saw her scoop and transfer from the kiddie pool to the flower pots. Talk about using a new skill for good!

Teaching toddlers life skills is so important. Learning to scoop is a lifelong skill and I’m so excited to keep introducing these kinds of activities to my tot!

Interested in more life skills activities? Try Montessori Practical Life: The Spooning Exercise, Practical Life: Pouring Water, and Scoop and Transfer.

Try learning to scoop with your toddler!