How to Make Your Own Lacing Cards

Lacing cards are a good way to teach early motor skills and coordination.

Lacing cards are an inexpensive and simple project that a child can do over and over again. Completing a card is a good way for a child to practice motor skills. Lacing cards can also be used to teach shoe tying and basic sewing concepts. These cards are a great toy to carry along in the car for a waiting room visit, or to save for a rainy day. Lacing cards also make a nice Valentine's Day gift.

Things You'll Need

• Stencil
• Sheet of craft foam
• Craft scissors
• Hole punch
• Shoelace
• Fancy lace or ribbon
• Crayons or markers

Instructions

Creating Your Own Card Design

1. Decide what shape you would like for your design. It should be a simple shape that won't be complicated to cut out -- such as a heart or star. Use a large stencil if you wish.

2. Sketch your shape onto a sheet of craft foam that's at least 5 inches by 7 inches, going as close to the edges as possible.

3. Cut out your shape with a pair of craft scissors. Use a hole punch to punch out holes around the perimeter of the shape at 1-inch intervals.

4. Provide your child with a shoelace to thread through the holes.

Using a Premade Card Design

1. Download a free lacing card sheet from a website such as Activity Village. You can find sheets that are in color as well as black and white if the child wishes to color them.

2. Print out your picture on a piece of thick cardstock.

3. Cut around the cardstock with craft scissors. Use a hole punch to punch out holes around the perimeter of the shape at 1-inch intervals.

4. Show the child how to thread a shoelace through the holes.

Tips & Warnings

• If the card is being presented as a gift, use fancy lace or ribbon instead of a shoelace. Add a greeting with markers or crayons.

References

• Activity Village: Free Downloadable Lacing Cards

Resources

• Kinder Printables: Pumpkin Lacing Card