Today, Adrian (39 months old) enjoyed threading a heart as Valentine’s Day craft. This activity can be enjoyed by toddlers, preschoolers, and even adults. It fosters concentration, develops fine motor skills, and encourages creativity. To prepare this activity, I traced and cut out hearts from red and pink cardstock (buy here), and then we punched the heart-shaped holes.
First, Adrian needs to learn to insert the thread through the needle’s eye. He is using these metal yarn needles, and sewing materials from this sewing set activity.
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Threading through the needle’s eye requires precision and concentration, which is a great way to practice fine-motor skills.
Interestingly, Adrian is using his left and right hands interchangeably, while he predominantly works with his right hand everywhere else.
Threading encourages a child to work with the hands, indirectly mastering fine-motor control. Adrian quickly learned the stitch, as he threaded through the pre-punched heart holes over and over, making a pattern.
This craft also encourages creativity as the child is free to choose a pattern design.
The first essential for the child’s development is concentration. The child who concentrates is immensely happy … Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed, [as] the child becomes a person through work. – Dr. Maria Montessori.
This DIY can make a great Valentine’s gift to friends, family or even as a class gift.
For more on Valentine’s themed activities, see here Valentine’s Inspired Activities for Kids.
For more on threading, see here Adrian lacing Wooden Geometric Shapes at 2-and-half years old.
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