Lid Slot Posting Tub
Lid Slot Posting Tub is a calm fine motor activity for toddlers aged 13–22 months (corrected age). Your child posts large jar lids through a slot cut in a food-container lid, practising an aimed release, turning the wrist and the in-and-gone surprise. It takes 5–10 minutes, needs 5 minutes of prep and works indoors.
Updated
Lid Slot Posting Tub
Your child posts large jar lids through a slot cut in a food-container lid, practising an aimed release, turning the wrist and the in-and-gone surprise.
- Ages (corrected)
- 13–22 months
- Time
- 5–10 min
- Prep
- 5 min prep
- Where
- Indoors · Calm
You need
- a large plastic food container with a lid
- 4-6 lids from big jars
Steps
- Cut a slot in the container lid a little wider than the jar lids and tape over the cut edges.
- Post one jar lid while your child watches and say "In it goes!"
- Hand over the next lid and wait; let your child find the angle on their own.
- If a lid stops on the edge, point to the slot rather than pushing their hand.
- Open the tub together, tip the lids out and ask "Again?"
Safety first
- Use lids wider than a toilet-paper-tube opening; never bottle caps or coins.
- Tape over the cut edges of the slot so they are not sharp.
No level picked yet. The 0–4 scale is a learning log, not a test.
Not yet: show it once, then let them explore
Watch for the first sign: turns a lid to line it up with the slot.
Not yet is information, not a verdict. Do it once yourself while they watch, pause, and offer it again in a few days.
Simplify one step
Next time: take the lid off the tub so your child first drops the jar lids into the open container.
Give the least help that works: wait first, then point or show, and guide hands only briefly.
Repeat the same version and fade your help
As you step back, watch for: lets go once the lid is in the slot.
Pause a few seconds longer before you model, and swap showing it for a point or a gesture.
Offer it once more, then add one change
When it is easy again: turn the tub so the slot runs crosswise and each lid has to be rotated to fit.
Change only that one thing and keep everything else the same.
Ready for one step up
Turn the tub so the slot runs crosswise and each lid has to be rotated to fit. Or carry it somewhere new: post envelopes through a mail slot or into the opening of a recycling bin.
Starting it on their own or using it in a new place is the strongest sign. Still change one thing at a time.
Stop and rest this one
In 2-3 days, come back with the simpler version: take the lid off the tub so your child first drops the jar lids into the open container.
End with something calming together. One hard moment never means a delay.
Stop on a good note
Keep this version and keep it short next time: 5 minutes is plenty.
They can do it, but it was not fun today. Add difficulty only once it feels easy and enjoyable again.
How to play Lid Slot Posting Tub
5 steps, about 5–10 minutes of focus time, 5 minutes of prep.
-
Cut a slot in the container lid a little wider than the jar lids and tape over the cut edges.
-
Post one jar lid while your child watches and say "In it goes!"
-
Hand over the next lid and wait; let your child find the angle on their own.
-
If a lid stops on the edge, point to the slot rather than pushing their hand.
-
Open the tub together, tip the lids out and ask "Again?"
What you need for Lid Slot Posting Tub
| What you need | A large plastic food container with a lid and 4-6 lids from big jars |
|---|---|
| Prep | 5 minutes of prep |
| Focus time | 5–10 minutes |
| Where | Indoors |
| Energy | Calm: good after active play or before a nap |
| Ages (corrected) | 13–22 months |
| Domains | Fine motor, Cognitive |
| Fits the day | On a rainy day indoors or as a quiet moment |
Easier and harder versions
Change one thing at a time. Drop to the easier version when Lid Slot Posting Tub stalls; move one rung up only once it looks easy on a few different days.
-
Easier
Take the lid off the tub so your child first drops the jar lids into the open container.
-
As written
The 5 steps above, for 5–10 minutes.
-
Harder 1
Turn the tub so the slot runs crosswise and each lid has to be rotated to fit.
-
Harder 2
Narrow the slot until each lid needs a careful push.
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Hardest
Add a second tub with a round hole so your child chooses which opening fits.
What to watch for
The signs of progress in Lid Slot Posting Tub, mapped to the 0–4 learning scale the family plan uses (a tracking aid, not an assessment).
| Level | What it looks like here |
|---|---|
| 2 · After a model | Does it right after you show it or point. Watch for: turns a lid to line it up with the slot. |
| 3 · Independent | Does it when offered, with no demonstration. Watch for: lets go once the lid is in the slot and tries another angle after a miss. |
| 4 · Spontaneous | Starts it unprompted or in a new place. Watch for: opens the tub to look for the lids. |
Try it somewhere new
Level 4 means the skill travels. Once Lid Slot Posting Tub is easy, change the place, the person or the material:
- Post envelopes through a mail slot or into the opening of a recycling bin.
- Try posting large flat cards cut from a cereal box into a different container.
Words to model
During Lid Slot Posting Tub, say “in”, “gone”, “where did it go?” and “open” at the moment they happen, one at a time, then pause so your child can answer with a look, a gesture, a sign or a word.
Safety for Lid Slot Posting Tub
- Use lids wider than a toilet-paper-tube opening; never bottle caps or coins.
- Tape over the cut edges of the slot so they are not sharp.
Why it works
AAP's toy report notes that simple household containers support problem-solving play, and putting objects into a container appears on CDC's 1-year checklist.
Evidence rating: Good: published guidance supports the approach. Cited: AAP clinical report: Selecting Appropriate Toys for Young Children in the Digital Era (Pediatrics, 2019) and CDC milestone checklists by age.
Skills and ages
Lid Slot Posting Tub practises posting objects and problem solving and fits ages 13 to 22 months. Each month below opens more activities for that age.
Skills practised
Activities by month (13–22 months)
Milestone checklists nearby
Activities like Lid Slot Posting Tub
Colander Straw Poke is the closest match: it also practises posting objects and problem solving. It suits 18–28 months, takes 5–10 minutes (about as long as Lid Slot Posting Tub) and needs no prep. For a younger child, Tissue Box Scarf Pull and Stuff starts at 12 months; for an older child, Nature Jar Lid Twist runs to 32 months.
Ranked by shared skills, materials and ages
Frequently asked questions
What age is Lid Slot Posting Tub for?
Lid Slot Posting Tub suits 13–22 months, using corrected age for a child born early. For a younger or hesitant child, start with the easier version: take the lid off the tub so your child first drops the jar lids into the open container.
How long does Lid Slot Posting Tub take?
About 5–10 minutes of focused play over 5 steps, with 5 minutes of prep. Stop while it is still fun and repeat it on another day.
How do I make Lid Slot Posting Tub harder?
Change one thing at a time. First: turn the tub so the slot runs crosswise and each lid has to be rotated to fit. Then: narrow the slot until each lid needs a careful push. Hardest: add a second tub with a round hole so your child chooses which opening fits.
How do I keep Lid Slot Posting Tub safe?
Play it only with an adult within arm’s reach. Use lids wider than a toilet-paper-tube opening; never bottle caps or coins. Tape over the cut edges of the slot so they are not sharp.
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Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.