Stringing practice

Stringing takes some serious fine motor skills, not to mention coordination. Have you ever stopped to watch a child who is just learning how to string struggle to get both of their hands to do different functions at the same time - it's one of those things that we take for granted as adults, but it is really really hard to learn, and it's not easy to explain the process to a child because we don't have to think about doing it ourselves.

Stringing is a simple activity that is easy to prep, but it helps to change up the materials so that it always seems new and interesting.  Here is a great list of things that you can string:

1. Wooden beads
2. Plastic beads
3. Homemade beads
4. Pasta
5. Washers and nuts
6. Cheerios and Fruit Loops
7. Pool noodle slices
8. Toilet paper tubes
9. Buttons
10. Jingle bells
11. Paper drinking straws
12. Plastic drinking straws
13. Pretzels
14. Pop can tabs
15. Keys
16. Empty tape rolls
17. Spools
18. Velcro rollers
19. Small wiffle balls/ping pong balls with holes
20. Paper clips

What you string is just as important as what you string it on, it's important to know what level your students are at and provide opportunities that help them to be successful while still challenging them.  Here are some different "string" options; 

1. Yarn
2. Plastic lanyard string
3. Shoelaces
4. Grosgrain ribbon
5. Curling ribbon
6. Embroidery floss
7. Pipe cleaners
8. Plastic-coated wire
9. Leather cord
10. Twine
11. Rope
12. Fishing wire

What are your students' favorite stringing materials?