The Beaded Plate Hair Stylist

Ages:: Preschoolers (3 to 5), School age (6+)
Play time:: 20 to 30 minutes
Setup:: 5 minutes
Where:: Table

Why it helps

This fun craft helps your child practice their pincer grasp. This is the ability to pick up small items with the thumb and pointer finger. It is a key skill for writing and using buttons. By sliding beads onto the yarn hair, your child builds eye-hand coordination. They also learn to use both hands together. One hand holds the yarn while the other guides the bead. It is a great time to talk about colors and patterns. Your child will love their new colorful friend!

Steps

Use your markers to draw a silly face on the paper plate.
Squeeze the hole puncher to make holes around the top of the plate.
Cut pieces of yarn and tie one through each hole for hair.
Give your child a bowl of beads to hold.
Ask them to slide the beads onto the yarn strands.
Tie a small knot at the end of each piece of yarn.

Safety tip: Beads are a significant choking hazard. Always supervise your child during this activity and keep all small materials out of reach of younger siblings.

Make it easier

Wrap a piece of tape around the end of each yarn strand to make a stiff tip.
Use big pony beads with large holes.
Punch the holes and tie the yarn for your child so they can focus on beading.

Make it harder

Copy a bead pattern on each strand.
Braid three strands of yarn hair together.
Ask your child to tie the end knots.

What to watch for

Notice whether the helper hand holds the yarn still while the other hand slides the bead.
Watch your child's pinch, with the tips of the thumb and pointer finger or the flat pads.
If the hole puncher is hard to squeeze, let your child use both hands or press it against the table.