Tinkering not only encourages children to think out of the box but invites them to embrace their curiosities through exploring and experimenting. Tinkering teaches children to think with their hands.

What's the deal with "tinkering"? Well, it's simple. Tinkering allows children to explore different parts in a variety of ways and then combine them to make new creations. There is no right or wrong way to "tinker."

Here is an example of tinkering: “Robot Tinkering." We will display a photo of a real robot (or any other object) with a variety of items such as wiggle eyes, cups, stickers, pipe cleaners, tape or scissors. Next we encourage the children to explore the items and create something. 

Benefits of Tinkering:

• Problem Solving: children plan, build and figure out how to assemble the parts to make a whole new original idea. Problem solving builds a child's confidence & creativity.
• Fine Motor Skills: strong fine motor skills are necessary for writing, cutting, using utensils or tying shoe laces.
• Sharing & Collaborating: when we set up a tinker station and invite children to visit it on their own, there will often be multiple children at time at the station, which will build sharing and collaboration skills. 

A tinker station can be an assortment of supplies that children use to build and design, or it could be something like an old, broken clock that you allow children to open up and take apart. Whether children are putting something together or taking something apart, these experiences encourage curiosity and a love of learning.

At Arising Star Children’s Center, we spend our days learning, laughing and having fun.  For more information about our program, go to our website:  www.arisingstarchildrenscenter.com or call 914-788-4582 to schedule a visit.