Threading activities are fantastic to develop those fine motor skills. You can also talk with your child about patterns, shapes, size etc... while they are having some fun!

You can use string, hat elastic, chenille sticks( aka Pipe cleaners), ribbon, shoe laces etc.. to thread onto.

For

threading:

( I have included quite a few edible materials for those that have cherubs that will suck, chew or poke things up nostrils!)

 

      ·         Fruit Loops ( These make excellent edible bracelets and necklaces - please use elastic if putting around little necks  and wrists

• Nutri-grain
• Other breakfast cereal that has holes in it.
• Pasta or macaroni ( Have a container with 3 or 4 different types in it so they can make patterns) You can buy pre-coloured pasta from craft supply shops, or you can do your own with water and food dye then dry it out for use.
• If you use plain pasta, your children can also use textas or paint to decorate afterward or watch you spray paint them gold or silver for precious jewellery!
• Dried apple rings
• Cotton reels ( You can buy bags of coloured ones from craft supply shops or ask your crafty friend for their old ones)
• Coloured paper shapes with a hole punched in the centre.
• Use a mixture of the above once children are able to thread competently, to make repeating patterns.
• For older children and under supervision, use a kebab stick and cut up pieces of soft fruit to thread on. See if they can make a repeating pattern ( ie: strawberry, grape, rockmelon, strawberry, grape, rockmelon etc)
• If you spend time at the beach, look for the cockle shells with holes and collect them. Tie two sticks together to make an X shape. Tie a string to each of the four ends and one from the centre. Have children thread and tie shells( will need to your help to tie a knot)  at various spaces along the string. Hang on verandah as a wind chime.

 Have fun!The ability to recognise and then to be able to create patterns is an important basic mathematical concept. Fun activities that enable children to recognise and create patterns are really important!