With the winter season in full swing, I am accumulating a list of holiday projects to try that’s a mile long! At the top of that list are so many ideas from our friend Jacinta of Cinta & Co. Jacinta’s learning activities are so fun, simple and colorful, and she just released her first Christmas ebook!
She was kind enough to share this sweet gingerbread lacing activity with us, that’s a “stitch” to put together with things you already have at home (perfect for this time of year).
Decorating and threading these adorable little gingerbread men is a wonderful way for children to develop their fine motor skills, muscle control and hand-eye coordination.
GINGERBREAD LACING – MATERIALS:
- Recycled cardboard
- Gingerbread cookie cutter or paper template
- Hole punch
- Black marker
- Ribbon
- Buttons
- White yarn
- Plastic needle
INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1: Place your cookie cutter or template onto your cardboard and trace.
Step 2: Cut along the edge of your marked line. Cutting thick cardboard as shown can be tricky for small children. You may like to cut the card yourself.
Step 3: Use the hole punch to make holes around the edge of the cardboard. If your cardboard is too thick for the hole punch, try rolling the card with a heavy rolling pin to thin it out a little.
Step 4: Decorate the gingerbread shape. Draw eyes and a mouth with marker pen and paste down a ribbon bow tie and buttons. We used PVA glue to attach these pieces.
Step 5: Start sewing! We used a plastic sewing needle for this step. If you do not have a plastic needle at home, fingers work well too.
TIPS AND TEACHING
- The finished product would look great as a gift card attached to a present!
- Lacing is a great activity to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- At first, your child may sew random stitches. Encourage them to follow a pattern or change to a blanket stitch for older children.
- This activity would also form a great busy bag activity that can be played over and over again.
- Using scissors is also a great skill required for school. Remember to take care when using scissors and to use scissors that are appropriate for your child’s age.
Make your own gingerbread lacing activity cards for fun holiday fine motor skill practice! Step 1: Place your cookie cutter or template onto your cardboard and trace. Step 2: Cut along the edge of your marked line. Cutting thick cardboard as shown can be tricky for small children. You may like to cut the card yourself. Step 3: Use the hole punch to make holes around the edge of the cardboard. If your cardboard is too thick for the hole punch, try rolling the card with a heavy rolling pin to thin it out a little. Step 4: Decorate the gingerbread shape. Draw eyes and a mouth with marker pen and paste down a ribbon bow tie and buttons. We used PVA glue to attach these pieces. Step 5: Start sewing! We used a plastic sewing needle for this step. If you do not have a plastic needle at home, fingers work well too. GINGERBREAD LACING CRAFT
Materials
Tools
Instructions
You can buy Cinta & Co’s Christmas Ebook HERE.
If your kids enjoy threading, try this rainbow pasta Christmas tree craft. Or check out this DIY felt Christmas tree with removable pom poms – a new favorite of ours this year!
Jacinta is the creator of the bright and colorful Instagram account Cinta & Co. An Australian based Mother of three and Scientist (PhD), Jacinta inspires creative kids and fun parents, families and educators with her learning and craft activities. She’s often asked why her page is called @cintaandco. It’s called Cinta & Co. as family and friends call her Cinta – short for Jacinta, and her kids are her Co. – you will often see their little hands hard at work in the photos that she posts.
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