Lacing & threading toys are a great creative & educational way to help little ones develop their fine motor skills.
Lacing & threading toys are an effective developmental toy to help little ones with their fine motor skills, help build and strengthen a toddler's grip, improve bilateral coordination, developing motor planning, and build concentration and patience.
What age are lacing toys for?
By the age of 2, most children will of learned how to pick up objects with a pincer grip (forefinger & thumb) an essential fine motor skill, moving on from the full palm grasp. So from two up a toddlers should be able to pick up lacing toys making them an excellent educational activity for toddlers to primary schooler to help them improve their hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills, as well as encouraging creativity.
What are the benefits of lacing & threading toys?
Lacing & threading toys are a great way to help develop fine motor skills in young children as they can be used in a variety of ways. Not only do these toys improve bilateral coordination and strengthen grip, but they can also aid in developing motor planning, building concentration, and increasing patience.
1. Help build and strengthen a toddler's grip as they hold the lace/thread in a pincer grip between the thumb and another finger.
2. An effective developmental toy for fine motor skills. Holding a lace, weaving & threading all help with the ability to make small movements using the smaller muscles in a little one's hands and wrists.
3. Help improve bilateral coordination, (using both sides of the body together in an activity) as they have to hold the lacing toy in one hand whilst using the other hand to thread & weave. Why is bilateral coordination so important: because so many everyday tasks such as walking or eating involve movements & actions that involve both sides of the body!
4. Developing motor planning (the ability to work out the plan of action before engaging in a motor activity) and hand-eye coordination as they simultaneously have to use hands and eyes as they push the thread/lace through the holes.
5. Builds concentration and patience with endless possibilities of patterns that can be created by threading, sewing, lacing or tying in only one toy. Meaning they are a great toy to take with you when travelling or out & about to keep little ones occupied!
