Dressing Frames: Shoelaces

Materials: A Shoelace Frame: 12” x 12” (30 cm x 30 cm) with two flaps of fabric attached to the frame which fastens with a long lace.

Purposes:

Age: 3 ½ - 4 ½

Preparation: None

Vocabulary:

Presentation:

Unlace

Invite one child for a lesson on lacing.
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 to the child’s right, orient the frame with the bow on the bottom. Untie the bow.
Lift the bottom of the flap which has the top lace with the same side hand. With the other hand, begin pulling the lace by short segments with the pincher fingers from under the flap.
Lay it horizontal on its new side
Repeat for the other side.
Continue unlacing in this way to the top.
Once it is pulled from the last top eyelet, pick up the lace and place the ends together so it is even and set above the frame horizontally.
Briefly open and close the fabric.

Lace

Lay the lace vertically down the center of the frame with the loop at the top.
Hold the right-side eyelet with the right fingers and feed the aglet through the eyelet from underneath the fabric. The right-hand pulls in short segments
Do the same for the other side.
Put the ends together in the right-hand
Use the first two fingers of the left hand to press the top of the fabric steady over the first two eyelets and pull the laces to even them out.
Take one lace in each hand, cross right arm over left and lay laces on the frame
Start lacing the lace that is on the bottom. One hand lifts the fabric, the other feeds the aglet up through the eyelet, and the lace is pulled through.
Repeat for the opposite side finishing with the lace evening movements and the crossing of the arms to cross the lace. Always cross with the same arm on the top to keep the crosses consistent.
Continue in this way until you reach the bottom. Do not tie a bow.
Invite the child and let them know they can ask a friend to help with the bow if they need it. Encourage repetition
Fade and observe.

***If you feel taking the lace out is too much for the particular child, stop at the last eyelets

Points of Interest:

Evening the laces so they match up in length.
Seeing consistent crossing of the laces (the same lace is on top) as the frame is laced.

Following Exercises: (Note)

Encourage the child to practice on their own clothing or help a friend with their laces.

Pedagogical Notes:

The child does not need to know how to tie a bow for this lesson.
The first time you demonstrate this frame consider stopping to replace it before the step of removing it completely. That can be added another day.

Dressing Frames: Zipper