Buttoning Board

Buttoning is a fun fine motor skill to work on! It is more motivating when it involves our children's favorite characters; in this case, Noodle & Pals from Super Simple Songs on YouTube!

Here, we created peek-a-boo buttoning boards that progressed from easy to more challenging buttoning skills.

Preparation:

Step 1: Cut up a piece of cardboard of your desired size (Our cardboard is the blue & white checkered print in the photo).

Step 2: Cut felt to your desired size. Ensure there will be enough overlap between the felt pages when you close the buttoning board.

Step 3: Glue the edge of the felt to the edges of the backside of the cardboard.

Step 4: Sew the buttons onto one of the felt pages, leaving a little slack in the thread so the buttonhole can slide under each button. Glued buttons sit too flat to button and can pop off, which is a choking risk.

Step 5: Cut out slits to match the sizes of your buttons on the other felt page.

Step 6: Optional - take a marker & outline the edges of the button openings (the slits you just cut), so it makes it easier to visually identify the location of the buttonhole opening.

Step 7: Print, cut & glue on your child's favorite character at the top of the cardboard sheet.

Tips and Grading Options:

Warm-Ups:

1. Insert popsicle sticks through slits on a coffee cup lid.
2. Insert coins into piggy banks.
3. Pick out buttons from playdough.

To make it easier:

1. Start with fewer buttons.
2. Create larger buttoning hole openings.
3. Highlight the buttoning hole openings by drawing around them (such as the black markings in the photo).
4. Use larger buttons.
5. Demonstrate how to button & use simple language.

To make it more challenging:

1. Increase the number of buttons.
2. Create smaller buttoning hole openings.
3. Use smaller buttons.
4. Use fabric with busy patterns.
5. Use fabric with flimsier material.

As always, ensure safety in all activities. Provide assistance and supervision as needed.

Enjoy!