Fun Lacing Crafts and Threading Activities for Kids

Lacing skills are essential for young children to practice and develop, as they enhance hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and patience.  This page offers a variety of lacing activities and threading activities for toddlers and preschoolers.

Advantages of lacing crafts

The motions involved in lacing are the same as those used in writing, providing a good foundation for letter formation and handwriting skills.  Lacing activities require children to use the small muscles in their hands and fingers, which enhances dexterity and strength. This is crucial for tasks like writing, buttoning, and using utensils.

Additionally, children’s hand-eye coordination is improved by threading the lace through the hole. This activity demands precise coordination between visual input and hand movement, improving overall motor planning and control.

Another advantage of threading activities is the strengthening of the pincer grasp. Grasping the lace or thread between the thumb and forefinger helps develop the pincer grip, which is important for holding pencils, crayons, and other tools.

Moving the lace or thread through the various holes helps a child’s understanding of spatial relationships and positioning.  Working on completing a lacing task requires concentration and patience, which aids children in building attention spans and patience.

Finally, lacing activities usually involve different colors and textures, which stimulate sensory development and encourage exploration.

Who benefits from lacing crafts?

Lacing crafts are beneficial for toddlers and preschoolers. One great resource below from The Craft Train provides a lacing activity that helps children practice tying their shoes, making it particularly suited for preschoolers.

The Apple Threading Activity from 123 Homeschool 4 Me features an apple threading activity for preschoolers, allowing them to work on fine motor skills, number recognition, along with number order.

Toddlers also would benefit from lacing and threading activities from Blue Brontide. These activities are an excellent way for toddlers to gain confidence, concentrate, and pay attention to details.

For more lacing activities, along with other yarn crafts, including making pom poms and yarn dolls, be sure to check out our yarn crafting page.

Incorporating lacing activities into a child’s routine can be a simple yet effective way to support their developmental milestones. Whether at home or in the classroom setting, these activities offer a hands-on approach to learning and growth.