How to Make a Learn-to-Button Book for Toddlers

Toddlers' little fingers often don't have the dexterity and coordination to get that sweater buttoned. But by playing with a button book, where it's all about fun and not about getting themselves dressed, children will have the opportunity to practice getting those buttons effortlessly in and out of buttonholes. Although the article gives specific ideas for the book's various pages, a parent can modify the project to include pictures that will particularly appeal to their own children.

Things You'll Need

• 8 pieces of felt, 6 by 9 inches, in various colors
• Felt scraps of various colors
• Scissors
• Pencil and/or chalk
• Buttons
• Heavyweight thread
• Needle
• Black permanent marker
• Coloring books
• Stencils

Instructions

1. 

   Make a cover for the button book. Choose a 6-by-9 inch felt piece in any color you like. Using another color of felt, cut out upper-case letters in the word "BUTTON BOOK." Before you begin, check your stencils or make paper patterns to make sure the letters will fit on the cover. Glue the letters in place, making sure you leave at least a 1-inch margin on the left side.

2. 

   Create the first page in the book. Choose a piece of 6-by-9 inch felt. Use a pencil or piece of chalk to draw the picture or design you want onto the felt. Make a circle in black marker everywhere you want a button; draw the circle the same size as the button you'll be using. Make sure the buttons are placed basically in the center of the felt page. They will be too difficult for the child to grasp if they are too close to the edges. You might want to use the design illustrated in this article for your first page just to give you the basic idea about how to construct the book.

3. Glue any permanent felt shapes onto the page. For example, on the page shown, the boy is glued down. Draw any details with a permanent black marker. Sew on the buttons securely.

4. Cut out the shapes that will be buttoned onto the page, and cut appropriate-sized slits (for button holes) in them. For example, in the page shown, the two balloons have been buttoned on.

5. Continue making pages, using designs you have created or copied from coloring books, until you have a half-dozen. Arrange the pages of the book in the order you want them with the cover on the top and a matching color piece of felt on the bottom. Sew the pages of the book together on the left side, leaving about an inch margin.

Tips & Warnings

• Present the book to the child with the shapes already buttoned in so that she can see where they belong. Let her learn to button them onto the book one page at a time.

Resources

• Source for felt