Lacing Beads -- what age?

[Babywhite]

I have seen several cute lacing bead sets. What age did your DD/DS start playing/working with these?

TIA
R.W.

[annasmom]

I got a set for my dd for Christmas, so I don't know yet how she will do with them. Here are some recent posts discussing lacing beads:

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=12&topic_id=44855&mesg_id=44855&listing_type=search

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=12&topic_id=41539&mesg_id=41539&listing_type=search

[brittone2]

We have the Schylling ones picked up 2nd hand and DS has been able to "string" them on a pipecleaner for a few months now (he's 22 months). I'm okay with him using smaller items because he doesn't put them in his mouth usually, but obviously it might be something you want DC playing with only w/ supervision.

Anyway, the occupational therapists I used to work with taught me the trick of having kids use a pipecleaner or a drinking straw to string beads if they are not yet able to use a shoelace :)

By 2ish most kids can at least use them w/ a pipecleaner IME.

[bluestar2]

I got DC the Haba lacing houses/cars/trees (love them!) and we are working at it now at 23 months. DD's fine motor skills are a bit more advanced than DS' and with a bit of help , she can lace them by herself using the wooden "needle" that comes with the Haba sets. IMO it is really useful to have that tool at this age. Otherwise they've been playing with them as little houses etc and carrying them around in containers. I would caution against leaving them unattended with the lace, though.

[August Mom]

I think DS started with them around 2.5.

[mudder17]

Okay, Kaya loves, loves, loves shoes with shoelaces. She takes the shoelaces off the shoes and then restrings them through the holes her own way. Occasionally, she puts them in so that they're wrapped around the same hole so that the shoelace doesn't move freely through the hole and she'll pitifully say, "help?" and I'll help her loosen it. But otherwise, she loves playing with the laces on our shoes and has since she was around 20 months?

Okay, so sometimes she'll grab our shoes, which have been outside, but she doesn't stick the shoes in her mouth, so we don't worry too much about it. There is a "build your own teddy bear" here at my aunt's house and it has these Sketcher shoes with shoelaces (and these shoes haven't been outside) and she spent 30 minutes yesterday just lacing and unlacing them. In this case, the shoelaces had a little metal heart that was also laced on the shoelace that could be removed, but fortunately, she identified it as a heart and did not try to put it in her mouth! But other than that, a doll or bear's shoe with laces might be a fine lacing toy. :)

Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_4_Kaya+is.png
Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[mum1day]

We have the Haba lacing beads and my DD loves them! She's 22 months!

[essnce629]

Conner just got a set of M&D lacing beads for Christmas and was able to do it all by himself after daddy showed him how to thread the lace through the bead. He's 28 months and I bought pipe cleaners just in case it was too hard with the lace alone, but he didn't even need them!

***Latia
Conner, my homebirthed water baby, 8/19/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif Self-weaned at 24 months! http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/9870.gif