An Opening for Locks

Looking for something new to add to your bag of tricks, that needs-to-be-bottomless collection of toys and trinkets and things to occupy children during times of great boredom? Try tossing a lock into the mix.

Learning to work a combination is a good fine-motor and motor-planning exercise for kids, and will ensure that when the time comes to worry about hall lockers and gym lockers in middle school and high school, your student will be ready.

One type of lock kids might particularly enjoy toying with are word-based locks like the ones at right from Wordlock. Your child can pick a word to serve as the combination, and then practice getting it right.

If the time has already come for your youngster to do locks at school, read Opening Locks and Lockers for some additional tips on teaching tumbler turning.