Areas of application for this Montessori material:

• Grip and hold the pencil (and hold the pencil upright)
• Refine hand control to steady the pencil
• Develop movements of straight and curved lines, in preparation for letter formation or a continual line which can assist with cursive
• Develop hand-eye coordination, to make small coordinated movements
• Experience the result of pressure on the pencil (light and dark), experience graduation of colour
• Develop fine muscles in the hand but also the larger muscles required for sitting and maintaining posture for writing
• Develop and strengthen the child’s concentration
• Make movements up and down and left to right (when filling in or shading), this is significant when reading and writing
• Practice order and repetition
• Develop geometric sense including the name of each shape, how it is constructed, how it looks when turned or moved, how it relates to other shapes
• Develop the ability to plan and carry out artistic designs.