Educational Toys: Lacing
This material is suitable for younger children. There are many different lacing games, all of which involve a lace and an item to lace. These toys help develop fine motor skills in children, preparing their hands for drawing and writing. Lacing consists of bases with holes and a special lace for threading. The child learns to thread the lace through the holes, improving finger dexterity. The first lacing toys should be flat and simple, so it’s easier for the child to hold them.
Story Lacing: Hedgehog
A picture of a hedgehog with missing parts like an apple, leaf, or mushroom that need to be laced onto it. This simple model with large elements helps the child succeed. The child is invited to thread the lace through the holes. Lacing requires the use of both hands, teaching the child how to correctly pass the lace through the holes, move it around, and follow a sequence of actions. Lacing games also help develop speech in children. During the game, you can talk about the animal world, particularly hedgehogs. Why do hedgehogs carry apples on their spines? What do they eat?
You can tell the child a story about a hedgehog collecting leaves to make a nest. Adults should continuously talk to the child during play, explaining their actions. Children pick up a lot of information from adults, and if the adult is engaged in the game, the child will be too. Every game is accompanied by speech, which enriches both the game and communication with the child. Most children enjoy playing with laces. With adult assistance, the child pushes the lace through the holes and pulls it out from the other side, learning to coordinate finger movements. Using the Hedgehog toy, you can teach the child to make stitches in a cross or square pattern. To capture the child’s attention, you can use different colored laces. As the child grows, show them how to sew a button onto fabric, using stitches with a needle and thread instead of a lace. This game helps build skills that will be useful later, such as tying shoes or making a bow on a gift. Always praise and encourage the child’s small victories.
If the child loses interest, it’s better to put the toy away and return to it later. For young children, it’s a significant achievement to focus for even a few minutes. It’s best to stop the game if the child starts to tire or get distracted. Lacing toys are safe, but play should always be supervised by an adult. The adult can invent new challenges and help the child as needed.
3D Shapes:
Learning to string beads onto a lace. Start with a free sequence, then make it more challenging by introducing specific patterns. Explore 3D geometric shapes like cylinders, prisms, and parallelepipeds. The child can sort the pieces by color and build towers from the elements. Children enjoy playing with 3D shapes, exploring and touching the pieces. This helps develop tactile perception.
Stringing Beads:
The set includes a wooden needle, lace, and beads. Use the game to explain how to thread beads, helping the child develop dexterity. Regular practice in developing fine motor skills will bring the best results.