Fine Motor Craft Using Beans

Miss Magoo and I recently made a bean jar. Not everything in the jar is beans, but that's what we're calling it.
I used an old pickle jar and we filled it with black beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, great northern beans, and barley.

We've been working on sorting and counting using the beans, but today I thought it would be fun to do a craft with the beans.

I got out several sheets of card stock and drew letters on them. Then I glued one bean into each area, and showed Miss Magoo how to find the match to that bean and fill in that area with more beans like it.

Miss Magoo is a bit of a creative type, and slightly rebellious as well. So this project was hard for her. She wants to be creative and do it "her way" when it comes to crafts. And most of the time, I let her. But because we are working towards the goal of homeschooling preschool this fall, it's time for her to learn that there will be crafts and projects that have to be done a certain way, even if she would prefer to be more creative. I'm trying to encourage her creativity, and yet make sure that she sees that we do have to follow rules.

Honestly, I thought this would keep her entertained for longer than it did, but I have to remember that she's only 3 ½, so it won't be long until crafts like this will keep her entertained longer. Still, she had fun, and she was proud to show her dad what she'd done while he was at work.
What is your favorite craft to do with your preschooler?
If you are interested in more crafts to do with your preschooler this summer, check out our posts for the Preschool Shape and Color Craft and our post for Magic Paint. You can also use the categories sidebar and click on preschool to get even more ideas!

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