Lacing cards are one of those things that I actually remember playing with as a child. They had a set in my kindergarten classroom, and I remember distinctly the satisfaction of "sewing" in and out of the little holes. They are a great exercise for fine motor skills, and safe practice for those who are eager to begin sewing.
To make your own, all you need is an image or shape on any kind of paper, some scissors, glue, a cereal box or cardboard of similar thickness, and a hole punch.
Cut roughly around the image you want to use. Apply glue to the back (glue sticks work great, or you can thin white glue with a little water to make something like decoupage glue), and glue it onto your cereal box cardboard. Once the glue has dried, cut closely around your image. Punch holes around the edges, and ta-da! Homemade lacing card.
When you make your own lacing cards, not only do you save a bit of money, but you can customize the cards to your own child's interests. You can choose shapes that your toddler is learning, or favorite animals, or turn them into a puzzle or game.
Think of it as a dot-to-dot. Put numbers by the holes, and as your child connects the dots by drawing the lace through, a shape magically appears! Or you can do a simple message -- you can check out an example (which you are welcome to download) here. No need to get fancy with the computer either, just break out the sharpie and be done with it. Making a lacing card in five minutes and handing it to your child to play with immediately has its charm, believe me.
And, um, the reason these look a little worse for wear? They were grabbed off the table and played with immediately. Even though we have store-bought lacing cards by the dozens, the homemade ones always seem to charm them the most.
Isn't that always the way?
Laura is the mother of three kids who range from toddler to teenager. She is passionate about healthful, sustainable food, and making things from scratch. In her fantasy life, she has a farm with chickens and goats, but for now raises her vegetables in the flower beds of her suburban garden. She chronicles her adventures at Chicken Counting.
