Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Health and Physical Development (HPD)

Subdomain: Motor Development

Goal: Children develop small muscle control and hand-eye coordination to manipulate objects and work with tools.

Skill Progression: Manipulation/Tool use

Age: 30-33 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 30-33 Months.

Observe the child with large beads and a heavy string with a reinforced tip.

The adult models threading the bead and encourages the child to thread her bead, too, to make a necklace.

The child now uses a pincer grasp to manipulate one small object into another small object, such as threading a large bead.

Early childhood educators and parents can make sewing cards with old greeting cards and a hole-punch. Children can put reinforcers on the holes. Children love hole punches and using the small circles left over for decorations. They can practice drawing skills by decorating their “sewing card.” Give children a shoestring and demonstrate how to sew through the holes. This is great practice for cutting, threading and drawing.