Dressing Frames: Buckles
Materials: A Buckles Dressing Frame: 12” x 12” (30 cm x 30 cm); with two flaps of leather attached to the frame which fasten with 4 – 5 buckles.
Purposes:
Functional Independence
Visual Motor Coordination
Fine Motor Control
Manual Dexterity
Age: 3 - 4
Preparation: None
Vocabulary:
Buckles: to unbuckle, buckle, strap, buckle, pin (also called a prong), loop
Presentation:
Unbuckling
Invite one child for the lesson on buckles.
Show the child the materials, how to pick up and carry the frame, return it to the shelf and allow the child to bring it to a table.
Sit with the opening flap with the strap attached on the right side
Explain what you will do.
Left pincher fingers hold the top loop while the right fingers pull the strap from the loop.
Let go of the loop. Pause.
Take the strap in your whole right hand and turn your wrist up so as to pull the strap in the buckle.
With the left index finger, move the pin out of the hole and to the right
Let go of the strap. Pause.
Left fingers grasp buckle and right grasp near the sewn edge of the strap.
Pull them apart and release.
Repeat for the rest.
When you get to the last one, briefly open and then close the flaps.
Buckling
Explain what you will do.
Start at the top.
Take the buckle in your left fingers, and the strap in your right.
Feed the strap through the buckle. Pause.
Take the whole strap in your hand and turn the wrist up to pull it tight.
The left index finger places the pin in the hole.
Release the strap. Pause
Take the loop into the left fingers and end of the strap into the right fingers.
Feed just the end of the strap through the loop and remove hands. Pause.
With the right index finger, push the bump of the strap through.
Continue for the rest.
Invite the child and encourage repetition.
Fade and observe.
Points of Interest:
Whole hand grasp to pull the strap back.
Aiming the pin directly into the hole.
Following Exercises:
Encourage the child to buckle their shoes/belts. The child can also help classmates with their buckles