Cracking eggs with your child

Cracking eggs takes a bit of training, but it’s a great Montessori practical life activity you can start around 3 years old. Kids love to practice tapping the eggs on a hard surface, breaking them open with their thumbs, and later crushing the shells with a mortar and pestle.

What you need

• Some eggs you can dedicate to the project—plan to cook the cracked eggs within about 24 hours
• Two bowls—one for the eggs and the other for the shells; preferably one with a hard “sharpish” edge
• A whisk or fork
• Mortar and pestle if you have one for grinding the shells

Some tips

• Plan on using at least 6 eggs to give your child enough practice
• Portion out the eggs you are going to use and leave them in the carton (your child will love to take them out of the carton like you do) 
• Incorporate math learning by counting the eggs, then counting them again after your child takes each one away to crack
• Show your child the two bowls and demonstrate how to tap the egg; they might be more timid on this step so hand-over-hand can help⁠
• Show them how to use their two little thumbs to put pressure on the crack and pull the shell apart⁠
• Designate one bowl for shells and a second one for the eggs –a wet cloth is handy for wiping hands ⁠
• Be prepared to fish out the shells⁠
• For more fun, have your child crush the shells with a mortar and pestle after they’re done cracking them