Easy DIY Lacing Cards for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Does anyone else remember sewing cards growing up?  Maybe more commonly known as lacing cards.  You know, the cards with holes around the edges where you lace or “sew” thread through them?

Well, it turns out, they’re still fun and kids still enjoy them.  And good thing, because lacing cards are a really great way to strengthen fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination for little hands.

And most importantly, it is EASY peasy to create your own lacing cards right at home.  We used empty cereal boxes to make these shapes lacing cards and I’m happy to report that they’ve been holding up well!

Of course, you can buy cards to practice lacing, but today, I’m going to show you just how easy it is to make them yourself.

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Why Lacing Cards?

In short: easy, versatile, fun.  Not only are lacing cards easy to make and great for fine motor practice, but they are also an excellent quiet time activity that you can do at home or add to a busy bag for family road trips.

You can make them into any shapes you’d like so they can be themed to things your kids are interested in.  And because they are just cards, they store really easily and don’t take up much space.

Ready to make your own?

Supplies

• Empty cardboard cereal boxes or other thick paperboard
  • I think that heavy card stock paper would work for this, too, but might not hold up over time as well.
  • I’ve also used craft foam (like this) to make lacing cards and it has also worked well.
• Scissors
• Markers
• Single hole puncher
• Shoe laces or beading laces

RELATED: PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS LACING CARDS FOR KIDS

Directions

1.  Flatten cereal boxes and open to the blank, cardboard side.
2. Use a marker to draw or trace shapes for your lacing cards.
   1. We chose to do basic shapes, but you can do any shapes or objects you wish.
3. Cut shapes out of the cardboard and punch holes around the perimeter.
4. Help your child lace the shoe laces through each hole until they’ve completed the shape.  Or you could practice pulling the thread across the shapes and connecting dots on the opposite sides.

And that’s it!  See?  Super easy and I bet you’ve already got all the supplies at home.

We used our markers to write in the names of each shape for some extra practice, but this isn’t necessary.

Depending on the shapes you create, you might let your kids decorate their lacing cards with markers or stickers if they’d like.  You know, just keep the fun going.

PIN IT FOR LATER:

Final Thoughts

Have you ever used lacing cards with your kids?  Let me know!

What other household things do you like to re-purpose?

Finally, if DIY isn’t your thing, I’ve linked some lacing cards below that I think you’ll love.