{"id":831,"date":"2018-01-16T19:30:22","date_gmt":"2018-01-17T02:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yycmontessori.ca\/?p=831"},"modified":"2018-01-16T19:31:22","modified_gmt":"2018-01-17T02:31:22","slug":"sewing-and-weaving-in-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yycmontessori.ca\/sewing-and-weaving-in-the-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Sewing and Weaving in the Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>As the new school year approaches, you undoubtedly are thinking of ways to rejuvenate some of your “tried and true” exercises, and create some new activities for those returning children who are still perfecting their basic physical movements.<\/p>\n

If you have not included sewing and weaving in the Practical Life area, you may want to do so now. Stringing and lacing activities are an excellent preparation for these skills. Needlework exercises are appropriate for the older child who has become proficient at the preliminary exercises. The small muscles are developing – and the children are learning a practical skill.<\/p>\n

Laying the Foundation with Strings and Laces<\/p>\n

Stringing beads is a traditional activity for the young child. It provides practice in eye-hand coordination and small muscle control. It also creates an opportunity for the child to “cross the midline” by holding the lace with one hand, grasping the bead or spool with the other, and then moving the bead or spool to the end of the string. Children do this over and over until the lace is filled to their satisfaction. The older child can learn to tie the end knot around a bead.<\/p>\n

Lacing is often learned on the dressing frame, though most children are familiar with lace-up shoes. Alternately, using stiff paper with pre-punched holes, or the\u00a0Lacing Shapes, children outline the form by sewing with the laces. Remember, if using yarn or string, you can prepare the stiff end with a rather wide piece of tape to make it easier to handle.<\/p>\n

These activities have repetition built in. The same movement is required over and over to accomplish the task. Not only do the movements refine muscular development, but they also help develop concentration, leading to normalization.<\/p>\n

Introducing the Needle<\/p>\n

Using a blunt-tipped plastic or metal needle with a large eye is the next step. Show children how to thread the needle and knot the end of the yarn or thread. With the Lacing Shapes or the Lacing Exercise, the child learns the up and down motion of making stitches. You can also create this activity using stiff paper with evenly spaced punched holes. The next step might be to mark the paper with evenly spaced dots for the child to follow. Ideas for progressive sewing activities include:<\/p>\n