Lacing is a fine motor skill that children should master around the age of 4 or 5. Lacing is most effective when done in conjunction with introducing crayons, pencils, markers and other writing utensils to their children. It’s essential because these activities help children perfect their pincer grip – you know, using your thumb and pointer finger together to grab things – which is necessary to hold a pencil properly.
Activities like this are crucial because it allows a break in the sometimes monotonous tasks of tracing or even coloring, and provides a wide range of motion that children can use. They’ll also become aware of the roles of their dominant and non-dominant hands. Stabilizing the cutouts while working the shoestring through the holes really strengthens those little fingers and muscles.

Materials:

• Paper
• Glue
• Yarn
• Hole Puncher
• Tape (Optional)
• Handprint Die Cut (Can be found at The Promise Resource Center!)
• Heart Die Cut (Can be found at The Promise Resource Center)
• Pen/Marker/Crayon

Directions:

• Start by cutting 2 rectangles out of the paper. Make sure one piece is just slightly shorter.
• Hold rectangles together and 4 evenly spaced holes on each side.
• Wrap tape around the tip of a long piece of yarn. Knot the other side of the yarn.
• Lace the yarn through the holes in the paper so that the 2 rectangles will stay together. You can use a bit of glue to make sure they are secure to each other.
• Cut out a handprint and have a child write their name on the hand. Glue the hand to the front of the cards.
• Have the child write or tell you the names of the people they love on the die cut hearts you made.
• The child can either give the card to the people they named on their hearts or use the pocket as a valentine’s day card holder.