Estimated Time to Read: 3 minutes

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Oranges are juicy, delicious fruits with so many sensorial properties that draw children’s attention. Peeling oranges gives very young children just the right amount of challenge to hold their interest. Pulling of the peel is a fine-motor challenge that aids eye-hand coordination and muscle strength. It also gives them a sense of satisfaction, combined with a desire to do for the family.

When to offer?

I would begin anywhere between 15 – 18 months. 

Things Required

• An easy-to-peel orange (mandarins, pixie mandarins, sumo mandarins, tangerines and clementines)
• 2 medium-sized bowls – 1 for the full orange and 1 for the peels.
• 1 serving plate (optional) – to arrange the slices on a platter for sharing
• Access to a basket with some more oranges (in case child wants to peel more than one)

Preparation

With very young children, I find it useful to score the oranges on the bottom which makes it easier for their hands to find and pull the peel apart. Alternatively, you can begin by removing the first peel and the child can follow. As always, you are the best judge of what works for your child! 

Illustrated Guide

I like to begin with an invitation, “Come with me, I’m going to show you how to peel some oranges.” Introduce everything at the table (if you have them arranged) else tell the child what we need and gather them together. With young children, it is lovely to smell and feel the orange and talk about it’s name and colour.

Place the orange flat on the table, holding it with one hand to give support and show the child to pull the peel using the other hand. I usually hold the peel with a two finger-thumb grasp (different size oranges require different grasps) because I find that this gives children a good support when they repeat after me.  Make sure you exaggerate the pulling of the peel!

Once the peel is apart, just place it in the bowl for the peels.

Let the child peel however they can. Now, you can offer to hold the orange down while the child peels or take turns peeling and holding.

 Once the orange is peeled, you can have the child arrange each slice on the serving plate to share with the family.

Involve the child in putting the items back in their place (or for wash). If you make dishes with the orange peel, tell the child and save it for later.

Short Guide

• Begin with an invitation, “Come with me, I’m going to show you how to peel some oranges.”
• Introduce everything at the table (if you have them arranged) else tell the child what we need and gather them together.
• With young children, it is lovely to smell and feel the orange and talk about it’s name and colour.
• Place the orange flat on the ground, holding it with one hand to give support and show the child to pull the peel using the other hand.
• I usually hold the peel with a two finger-thumb grasp (different size oranges require different grasps) because I find that this gives children a good support when they repeat after me.
• Make sure you exaggerate the pulling of the peel.
• Once the peel is apart, just place it in the bowl for the peels.
• Let the child have a turn. Now, you can offer to hold the orange down while the child peels.
• Once the orange is peeled, you can have the child arrange each slice on the serving plate to share with the family.
• Involve the child in putting the items back in their place (or for wash)
• If you make dishes with the orange peel, tell the child and save it for later.