Recommended Age: 2 and ½ to 4 years
Level of Parent Involvement: Low, the initial presentation requires the adult to demonstrate, once demonstrated this can be an activity available on the child’s shelf which they may practice independently
Prerequisites
- None
Materials
- A shoe lace with plastic tips at either end
- A selection of large beads with a medium sized hole
- A small container which the child can open independently to hold the beads
- A tray or basket to place the materials
Preparation
- Tie a double knot at the end of the shoelace, the knot should be large enough so that when the child threads the beads onto the shoelace they do not fall off
- Place the beads into the container
- Arrange the shoe lace and container of beads on the tray/ in the basket
Steps
- Invite the child letting them now that today you will be showing them how to thread beads
- Show the child where the tray/basket is, the child may bring it to the table
- Sit to the right of the child, take out the shoe lace, confirming the child can name it, provide the name if necessary
- Invite the child to take the container of beads and open it, assisting if necessary
- Take the shoelace with your left hand, holding the plastic tip, the end with the knot should be at the other end
- Take one of the beads from the container with your right index finger and thumb, making a point of noticing the hole with the child which runs through the bead
- Thread the bead onto the shoelace by lining up the hole of the bead with the tip of the plastic shoelace end
- Push the plastic tip of the shoelace through the bead until you see the tip come out of the other side of the bead
- Once the bead is on the shoelace, pull the plastic shoelace tip with your right hand allowing the bead to fall onto the shoelace to the knot at the end of the lace
- Notice with the child the bead has now been threaded onto the shoelace
- Repeat for a few more beads
- Show the child how to take the beads off one at a time by pulling the bead up towards the end of the lace and off, and place it back in the container
- Invite the child to have a turn
- Leave the child to work independently
- Come back and check on the child after some time, if they have used all the beads, encourage them to take the beads off and try a different design
Variations
- For children who have good fine motor coordination a piece of thin thread or cotton may be used and smaller beads with smaller holes, further refining their fine motor skills
- You may use cut up pieces of straw and string for the child to make necklaces
