Lacing cards — stiff cards with punched holes around a shape — give children their first experience of following a sequential path with their hands. Threading the lace up through one hole and down through the next requires crossing the midline, bilateral coordination, and the kind of sustained, methodical thinking that underpins early literacy and math. Best of all, the finished card is a beautiful artifact the child made entirely independently.

What You'll Need

• Pre-made lacing cards (foam or cardboard shapes with punched holes) OR
• DIY: thick cardstock, a hole punch, and plastic lacing cord
• Lacing cord with a blunt needle or stiff plastic tip

DIY Lacing Card Ideas

• Simple shapes: circle, heart, star, house, tree
• Animals: fish, butterfly, elephant outlines
• Seasonal: pumpkin, snowflake, flower
• Letters: trace large block letters and punch holes every 1.5cm along the outline

Teaching the Lacing Technique

1. Knot the lace through the starting hole.
2. Show the "up-down" motion: up through the next hole, down through the following one.
3. Let children try two or three holes, then step back.
4. If the lace tangles, show how to pull it gently back — troubleshooting is part of the learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can children use lacing cards?

Most children can begin with lacing cards between ages 2.5 and 3, starting with widely spaced holes and thick cords. By age 4, most children can lace a full card independently with occasional assistance. The activity remains beneficial through age 6 as hole spacing decreases and shapes become more complex.

How do lacing cards relate to writing readiness?

Lacing trains the eye-hand coordination loop — the visual system guides the hand to a precise target location — which is exactly the mechanism needed for letter formation. Additionally, following the sequence of holes from start to finish introduces the concept of directionality that underlies left-to-right reading and writing.

Related activities: Bead Threading | Pasta Lacing Necklaces | Hole Punch Confetti Art