Why threading is terrific for toddlers

Threading is a brilliant activity for boosting fine motor skills. But did you know it has benefits across all of our streams? 

Let’s start with fine motor

When threading, your toddler’s fingers all work together to help pick up, move and manipulate the objects they use 

There are many daily tasks that will call upon this skill in the future, such as typing, writing and cutting with scissors. 

Muscles in the hands and fingers are strengthened when threading 

Your toddler will need strong muscles for many tasks as they grow and develop. When their muscles are stronger, they'll be able to participate in activities for longer periods of time.  

Threading encourages your toddler to hold objects between their thumb and pointer finger using the pincer grip 

This is the ultimate grip your toddler needs to master, as it will help them when they draw, paint and write. 

Threading develops skills across other streams too...  

Gross motor 

Threading requires your toddler to use the left and right side of their body at the same time – this is known as bilateral-coordination 

Tasks such as cutting, fastening a zip and holding a bowl while stirring all need bilateral coordination making this an important skill to practise. 

Sensory 

Hand-eye coordination is an important part of your toddler’s development 

Almost everything they do relies on the simultaneous use of their hands and eyes. 

Cognitive  

Threading is great for supporting early maths skills 

As your toddler’s skills in threading develop, they may start matching colours, making patterns, calculating measurements and counting. 

Concentration and thinking skills are built  

Your toddler focuses and concentrates when they thread objects. It takes a lot of perseverance to stick with the task and not give up. 

Language, social and emotional 

Threading lends itself to having a chat with whoever is close by, offering possibilities for language development 

Your toddler may be quiet right now as they concentrate on the skill of threading. When they become a little more confident, they might start to talk about what they are doing, or what they wish to do.  

You might also notice that as your toddler grows, they use threading as a calming activity. You may even find it’s a good time to chat about something unrelated to threading as a way to process events or emotions.