In Class Presentation
Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards
Purpose: For the child to further develop their fine motor skills and concentration
Level of Parent Involvement: Medium, the adult must present the exercise to the child, then low supervision is required
Prerequisites
- The child must have some degree of fine motor control in manipulating an instrument (the needle)
Materials
- A sewing card (see resource pack)
- A needle
- Cotton thread
- Scissors
- Sticky tape
- Pin cushion (optional)
- A tray or basket to keep the materials
Preparation
- Place the above materials on the tray
Steps
- Invite the child, letting them know that you will be showing them how to do a sewing card
- Bring the materials to the table, depending on your dominant hand, have the child sit to either the left or right side of you (for example if you are right handed, have the child sit to your left so that their view is not obstructed)
- Show the child the sewing card, noticing the holes
- Show the child the needle, thread the cotton through the eye of the needle tying a knot to secure
- Tie another knot at the end of the thread so the needle doesn’t pull through the sewing card
- Let the child know the side with the shape is the front, turn the card over letting the child know that is the back
- Holding the card with one hand, push the needle through a hole with the other, when the needle is all the way through, pull until the thread has reached the knot
- Turn the card so the shape is now visible, pointing out where the needle has come through
- Show the child the next hole, push the needle through and pull until the needle is through to the other side, turning the card
- Invite the child to continue, following the direction of the shape, turning the sewing card over each time until they reach the last hole
- Once the shape has been sewn all the way around, show the child how to cut the thread
- Take a small piece of sticky tape to secure the thread to the card
- Cut any remaining thread from the needle
- Return the items to the tray/basket
Variations
- Sewing beads onto the card
- Using 2 different coloured threads
