Lacing Activity for Fine Motor Development
Mastering fine motor skill is important for your preschoolers. Shannon, creator of the blog Shannon's Tot School, recommends providing your students with lacing activities during class time and free play. Here's a great idea that your students are sure to love!
Supplies You'll Need
- Sheets of WonderFoam® in assorted colors
- Animal templates (print these out from Shannon's website)
- Card stock
- Craft scissors
- Tape
- Beading laces with plastic tips, shoelaces, or plastic lacing needles and yarn
- Paper punch
Making The Lacing Sheets
Download the animal templates (or find your own) and print them onto heavy card stock. Use these to trace animal shapes onto WonderFoam® sheets in assorted colors and use your craft scissors to carefully cut them out. With a paper punch, create holes around the outside edge of the shape, about 1/2" apart.
Using The Lacing Sheets
Whether you've decided to use the beading laces, shoelaces, or a needle and yarn, tie a knot at one end of the string. Demonstrate for your students how to pull the cord through the first hole until the knot stops and how to continue lacing (reminding them to pull the string all the way through the hole).
This activity not only strengthens focus, coordination, and control, it will also help develop patience and the ability to follow directions!