Lacing is an activity that the children enjoy and it is great for hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills. I’ve never purchased commercial lacing cards but over the years I’ve made a variety of different ones. Most cardboard or paper ones don’t last long but they’re cheap and easy to make.
I have some plastic ones that I made from old lids that have lasted for many years and the children don’t seem to mind that they are all yellow circles. There are some that I made from foam stars and cardboard tubes too. During my recent sunroom reorganization I found some saved items that I had forgotten about and I decided they might be good for lacing.
Intricate detail demonstrates exceptional dexterity even from the youngest child.
But it is more than just developing motor skills – as always there is also some drama
Even when they are not particularly interested in lacing they are still engaged – sorting and counting laces and shapes. Stacking and balancing
an experiment that led to the creation of a wind mill when they discovered that they could blow on the stack and the top piece would spin.
Math and science!
Wonderful initiative that couldn’t have occurred if I had insisted that lacing toys be used ‘correctly’. So much learning packed into one simple activity.
Cheryl's Child Care 