School Holiday Project 35 - Stringing Bracelets

It is a great exercise in fine motor development to give a child the opportunity to string beads. Stringing beads also allows the child to develop patterns and to work with the rhythm of the pattern, another great educational and developmental opportunity. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to teach the little ones how to string bracelets after they showed interest in doing so, having seen what I've done for a previous project. Let me show you how to tackle this task with smaller children in today's blog.

The first step was to introduce the kids to memory wire. I then showed them how to use the side cutter to cut the memory wire. I found a good length for their bracelets and indicated where to cut. They did splendidly!

I then showed them the need for twisting one end of the wire back, showing them that the strung beads could slip out at the open end if we did not twist a loop onto that end. I then showed them how to use the round nosed pliers to twist back the wire. Our little girl struggled with this and eventually had to be helped by her brother.

The slightly older brother, however, very deftly folded the ends of both his own and his sister's bracelets back.

Not too shabby for an almost-six-year-old!

Stringing the beads onto the wire took a lot of concentration for these clumsy little fingers, which was made most evident by our talkative little girl falling completely silent while busy with the stringing.

Refrain from taking over when they struggle. This is a really good exercise for them!

Even the older one concentrated hard to get the beads onto the wire, turning the beads in his fingers to line up the holes before stringing them onto the wire.

I made some suggestions and finally our girly girl decided on a combination of different pink beads for a pattern. I helped her to keep the pattern straight and when we reached this stage in the photo, she grew tired of task. She had already done very well and I praised her for it and agreed to finish the bracelet for her. She sat with me and 'corrected' me when I struggled with the pattern.

When we ran out of the bigger beads, the bracelet was full enough and we agreed to end it.

I cut the excess memory wire away.

I then twisted the open end back.

The bracelet is much too big for this little arm, but she did not seem to mind it one little bit!

Seeing sheer delight and pride on a little face is the best reward for any aunt at the end of such a project.

In the meantime, our little boy had his own ideas as to the pattern he wanted on his bracelet.

He insisted on starting and ending his bracelet with odd beads and I decided to allow him this liberty. Just because a child makes different choices from the ones you would make, does not mean their choices are inferior. Acknowledge their right to determine their own choices and you will breed confidence in a child, rather than to dominate them with your own opinions. In the long run, this bracelet will be a distant inconsequential memory, but a confidant young man, will never be considered inconsequential.

This too, is a face that reflects delight and pride. Job well done!

A close-up view of the second bracelet.

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy the books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.

Jy kan Kom Ons Teken en Verf Tuinstories hier koop.
Jy kan Kom Ons Kleur Tuinstories In hier koop.
Jy kan Tuinstories hier koop.
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