Learning Shapes by Wrapping Yarn to a Paper Plate

I have put together a collection of weaving crafts for children as young as two years old. Weaving crafts helps younger children develop fine motors skills, hand eye coordination, focus and encourage them to finish tasks.

These activities are simple and the child sees immediate results, that gives confidence to do the next task or activity. It supports their fine motor skills e.g. writing, using a paint brush, daily life skills such as using folk and knives, tying shoe laces and buckles etc.

I have used basic materials such as a colander from the kitchen, yarn, cardboard and natural materials from my garden. You really don’t have to buy materials to support your child's fine motors skills. Look around you to see what you can find that is child friendly and safe for the child to use.

Learning Shapes by Wrapping Yarn to a Paper Plate

Materials you will need:

4 Deep paper plate (paper bowls)

Some thick yarn or ribbons in different colours

Pair of Scissors

Sticky tape

Colours: crayons or water colours

Pencil

Learning Shapes by Wrapping Yarn to Paper Plates (Age 2 1/2 onwards)

This is one of my top hit activities to do with young children. It's super fun for toddlers, kindergartners and preschools. The children not only learn about shapes, but they learn the very basic method of weaving. 

Depending on the age of the child, you can start by giving them some colours so that they can colour each of the plates with different colours. You can ask them e.g. which colour they want to use to paint the circle or the triangle. I normally introduce one shape at a time and gradually go through all the shapes over a period of time.

It normally takes about a day if the child has painted the plate with water colours, as the plate has to dry first. If using crayons then you can start immediately by cutting the shape that you want in the plate.

Once the paper plates are dry, draw different large shapes inside the plates. You then cut each shape from inside.

Now cut the yarn or ribbons about 70 to 80 centimeters in length so that it is easier for the child to wrap it around the paper plate. (Example you will see in the video below). Cut three of each colours

Next using the tape, take one end of the yarn and stick it to the inside of the plate and start to wrap the yarn.

First show the child how to wrap, and then ask the child if he/she would like to try.

The child might try it for two or three rounds, that's fine. If you see the child is tired and would like to stop, ask the child to put it away and tell the child that he/she can continue with the activity later on or next day. 

Use different yarn or ribbons for different shapes.

Video: Learning Shapes by Wrapping Yarn to Paper Plates