My daughter just figured out how to tie knots! It's so exciting when your child learns a new skill right before your eyes. She had been trying to tie a piece of string around her toy dog... a collar, of course. She was getting so frustrated that the tears were seconds away. I tried to give here a lesson on her dog- big mistake... too hard... tears
did come. I spontaneously created a "tie board" out of a scrap of cardboard and a hole-puncher. It was an instant hit! I always create better under pressure. She not only practiced until she really got it, but the board travels in my purse. I like to bring it out when we're needing a little meditative hand work (think check out line at the grocery store, dentist's office, etc.). She's tying knots on everything these days! Love that. The cardboard is approximately 2 1/2 x 9 inches.
Have you recently learned something new? Isn't pride in freshly gained skills powerful?
My daughter just figured out how to tie knots! It's so exciting when your child learns a new skill right before your eyes. She had been trying to tie a piece of string around her toy dog... a collar, of course. She was getting so frustrated that the tears were seconds away. I tried to give here a lesson on her dog- big mistake... too hard... tears did come. I spontaneously created a "tie board" out of a scrap of cardboard and a hole-puncher. It was an instant hit! I always create better under pressure. She not only practiced until she really got it, but the board travels in my purse. I like to bring it out when we're needing a little meditative hand work (think check out line at the grocery store, dentist's office, etc.). She's tying knots on everything these days! Love that. The cardboard is approximately 2 1/2 x 9 inches.
Have you recently learned something new? Isn't pride in freshly gained skills powerful?
and such lovely colors of yarn she is tying!
ReplyDeleteSweet idea! My little one was just asking me to teach him to sew on the sewing machine, and I told him we had to start with hand sewing. We used a purchased set handed down from his older sister with laces and cardboard cutouts. I think we have plenty of cardboard around to make lots more cutouts as you have done here.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea Maya. So nice that it can be tucked away in your bag and brought out in those "give me just a minute" moments :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea! One of the things that makes motherhood so wonderful is seeing that proud look in your child's eyes when they do something new. -Don't you think? Personally, learning new things,gaining new skills is what keeps me motivated! Recently I have been working on my drawing skills and although sometimes frustrating, it is so rewarding.
ReplyDeletemy boyfriend and i recently learned how to solve a rubiks cube, it totally ruins the illusion so i wish i had stayed ignorant but i am pretty proud of the fact im the nerd who can solve a rubiks cube haha
ReplyDeleteThis is great and can also be
ReplyDeleteused with shoe strings for learning
to tie shoes. I have a shoe board
that is almost like this from when
I was a child. It is thin press
board shaped like a shoe with
holes... about the sames as this
The laces long gone somewhere
in my childhood I went to the
dollar store and got 10 laces for
a dollar... they are small I guess
for baby shoes? anyway that is
what the kids use to learn on
Wasn't the toys back then made
well? Love this idea maya you are
oh so very creative! And I agree
with heather... wonderful colors
of yarn... do you keep extra in
your bag just in case?
maya i can tell you are a wonderful mom~
ReplyDeleteelk
You are my new hero. I have two small people grappling with this particular life skill and fighting back the frustration. Thank you - am off to punch holes now...
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I'll have to remember that one, for sure.
ReplyDeleteZoe learned a million songs since she is in kinder. I can't believe it. She knows all the lyrics by heart after one time hearing them. And now, she started playing with putting one song's lyrics to another song's music, using the rythm of a melody to play with her fingers on the piano, and to make word games with the songs. It's amazing...
ReplyDeleteStill, she has a really hard time when she can't do something, like tying a knot. Not patient at all...
This is a great idea. It would be great for practicing shoelace tying too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Congrats to you daughter!
ReplyDeleteHow old is she? Can I do this for my 4 1/2 yr old grandkids? They will love it? Hugs.
ReplyDeleteOh this is such a great idea, I love it! I'll be linking.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know how much I love your blog. I am always finding creative things to do and make and I couldn't be more thankful to you for sharing! I'm passing along to you a Kreativ blogger award since yours is one of my favorites!!
ReplyDeleteWell done. Teaching Girl Guides knots always has someone in tears - even our teens get frustrated with it. We start with things like lolly snakes and have a whole heap of tricks and tips to teach knots. Coloured shoelaces are good too.
ReplyDeleteI like that this lets the child practice without pressure. It's so deconstructed--it's not like facing a shoe that needs to be tied. And it's self-correcting: the child will know if she has succeeded. Thanks for such a nice idea
ReplyDeleteI know just what a wonderful mother you are maya having had the great pleasure to witness it firsthand. I am learning something not new but lost for a while now, how to sleep soundly and feel rested.
ReplyDeleteClever girl!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! My eldest is 4 and she often says sadly, " I can't tie a knot yet, mum, and (so-and-so classmate) can." This is a great idea. Soon as I wake up tomorrow (and empty the dishwasher, head off to Costco, cook lunch, get horribly distracted with life, etc.) I will punch holes in a shoe-shaped cardboard piece and let her get to work. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat is brilliant! I will do it tomorrow. Too cool.
ReplyDeleteMust try this in my classroom! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Found you from One Pretty Thing... I'm loving your blog!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Happy Happy Brilliant Thank You!!!
ReplyDeleteyou are truly a geniua! can't wait to share this with my little maya...she'll love it. so glad i found your blog. it's very inspiring:)
ReplyDeletehugs to you
LOVE it!! We used cardboard with holes to practise threading, I hadn't thought about using it to learn how to tie knots.
ReplyDeleteI am going to make one now (and I may even let the kids try it!)
We tried this out yesterday and I shared our results (linking back to you of course!!) - http://lyndsxo-glamourmoms.blogspot.com/2009/08/tying-knots.html
ReplyDeleteThanks SO MUCH for the inspiration. My little guy was really struggling with knots and is now a pro!! He is SO proud!!
thank you.. I will use this idea for my bear cubscouts as we will learn tying knots.
ReplyDelete