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The goal of threading is to put a guide, such as a string, through a bead. This activity is a precursor to sewing, a practical life skill. Before a child progresses to string, they first work on what you’ll often see called stacking. The “string” in the following activities are stationary dowels, whereas the “bead” is any combination of rings or 3D shapes. These activities help develop fine motor skills, primarily hand-eye coordination, as well as strengthen the muscles in the arms, wrists, and fingers. As we progress through the levels, a child refines their hand movements and develops better hand, wrist, and finger control. The beads become smaller and require more advanced grips and the margin for error with the dowels decreases.

Note: the ages presented here approximate when to introduce the material. However, do not rely solely on these ages. It is better to see what level your child is at and choose the next level activity. A child’s interests and skills vary greatly. If your child is not interested or the material is too difficult, put it away for a few weeks and try again later.

Level 1: Rocking stacker

The first level is a traditional ring stacker with a twist: a rocking base and variable-width rod. This helps prevent the frustration that can occur early on from the stand falling over. In other words, a child’s movements don’t have to be precise, which is great because, at this age, they won’t be!

Approximate age: 8 months

See Level 1 Threading: Rocking Stacker for information on goals, materials, and how to present the activity.

Level 2: Large rings on a vertical dowel

The second level introduces a straight vertical dowel with very large rings. Similar to level 1, there is a high margin of error when putting the rings on, which helps to slowly refine hand movements.

Approximate age: 10 months

See Level 2 Threading: Large Rings on Vertical Dowel for information on goals, materials, and how to present the activity.

Level 3: Wooden discs on a vertical dowel

Level 3 introduces the wooden discs we will use in many of the future levels. The discs have narrower centers, which require the child to be more precise when placing them on the dowel.

Approximate age: 11 months

See Level 3 Threading: Wooden Discs on a Vertical Dowel for information on goals, materials, and how to present the activity.

Level 4a: Ring stacker with variable size

Level 4a introduces the first main variation: different-sized rings. If you remember in level 1, I said to hold off on giving all of the rings at once. At that time, we wanted to focus only on putting a ring on the stick. Now, after months of practice, we expect the child to have become very good at that part, so we can introduce a new skill: distinguishing between different sizes.

Approximate age: 12 months

See Level 4a Threading: Ring Stacker with Variable Size for information on goals, materials, and how to present the activity.

Level 4b: Cubes on a vertical dowel

With level 4b, we change the shape of the “bead”. Instead of rings, we now use a 3D cube. This allows the child to refine their grip and further improve hand-eye coordination and grip strength.

Approximate age: 12 months

See Level 4b: Cubes on a Vertical Dowel for information on goals, materials, and how to present the activity.

Level 5a: Wooden discs on colored dowels

Level 5a adds a new dimension to the already mastered “put disc on vertical dowel” activity in level 3. Now, there are 3 colored dowels as well as 3 different colored discs. This activity then becomes a way to introduce sorting by color.

Approximate age: 15 months

See Level 5a: Wooden Discs on Colored Dowels for information on goals, materials, and how to present the activity.

Level 5b: Multiple 3D shapes on a vertical dowel

By providing multiple 3D shapes, level 5b extends the already mastered cube activity in level 4b. The different shapes provide further refinement of a child’s grip and we begin sorting by shape.

Approximate age: 15 months

See Level 5b: Multiple 3D Shapes on a Vertical Dowel for information on goals, materials, and how to present the activity.

Level 6: Wooden discs on a horizontal straight dowel

Level 6 switches from a vertical dowel to a horizontal one, allowing fine motor refinement in a new axis of motion.

Approximate age: 16 months

See Level 6: Wooden Discs on a Horizontal Straight Dowel for information on goals, materials, and how to present the activity.

Level 7: Wooden discs on a horizontal serpentine dowel

The final level uses a curvy, or serpentine, dowel. The curvy dowel combines moving in multiple axes at once to accomplish a goal.

Approximate age: 17 months

See Level 7: Wooden Discs on a Horizontal Serpentine Dowel for information on goals, materials, and how to present the activity.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Montessori Threading Activities appeared first on Mommy on the Spectrum.

The final level uses a curvy, or serpentine, dowel. The curvy dowel combines moving in multiple axes at once to accomplish a goal.

Primary Goals

• Strengthen arm and wrist muscles.
• Refine pincer grasp.
• Develop fine motor skills.
• Develop hand-eye coordination.

Secondary Goals

• Increase focus and concentration.
• Develop hand dominance.

Approximate age

17 months, or as soon as the child is comfortable with the straight horizontal dowel in Level 6.

Materials

Discs on horizontal dowel variation: serpentine

Presentation

• Place the discs in a basket next to the base in a tray.
• Help your child bring the tray to the work area. (Carrying objects while walking appears around 18 months, so modify the amount of help on what they are able to do.)
• Place the base with the dowel pointing to the right.
• With your right hand and the pincer grasp, take a disc out of the basket.
• Slowly and carefully put it on the dowel.
• Repeat with the remaining discs.
• One at a time, remove the discs from the dowel.
• Offer the child a turn and move aside.
• When the child is done, have them help put the discs back in the basket and put them on the tray.
• Help the child return the tray to the shelf.

Easier variations

None. Use the previous level with the straight horizontal dowel.

Extensions

Once putting the discs on with the dowel pointing right is mastered, rotate it to point left and have the child use the other hand to put it on.

The post Level 7 Threading: Wooden Discs on a Horizontal Serpentine Dowel appeared first on Mommy on the Spectrum.

Level 6 switches from a vertical dowel to a horizontal one, allowing fine motor refinement in a new axis of motion.

Primary Goals

• Strengthen arm and wrist muscles.
• Refine pincer grasp.
• Develop fine motor skills.
• Develop hand-eye coordination.

Secondary Goals

• Increase focus and concentration.
• Develop hand dominance.

Approximate age

16 months

Materials

Discs on horizontal dowel toy

Presentation

• Place the discs in a basket next to the base in a tray.
• Help your child bring the tray to the work area. (Carrying objects while walking appears around 18 months, so modify the amount of help on what they are able to do.)
• Place the base with the dowel pointing to the right.
• With your right hand and the pincer grasp, take a disc out of the basket.
• Slowly and carefully put it on the dowel.
• Repeat with the remaining discs.
• One at a time, remove the discs from the dowel.
• Offer the child a turn and move aside.
• When the child is done, have them help put the discs back in the basket and put them on the tray.
• Help the child return the tray to the shelf.

Easier variations

None

Extensions

Once putting the discs on with the dowel pointing right is mastered, rotate it to point left and have the child use the other hand to put it on.

The post Level 6 Threading: Wooden Discs on a Horizontal Straight Dowel appeared first on Mommy on the Spectrum.

By providing multiple 3D shapes, level 5b extends the already mastered cube activity in level 4b. The different shapes provide further refinement of a child’s grip and we begin sorting by shape.

Primary Goals

• Develop visual discrimination, specifically in shapes and colors.
• Refine palmar grasp.
• Develop fine motor skills.
• Develop hand-eye coordination.

Secondary Goals

• Increase focus and concentration.
• [Math] Introduce understanding size, shape, and patterns.

Approximate age

15 months

Materials

The best version I’ve seen is colored solids on dowels. Something to be mindful of is each of the 3D shapes in that toy is different colors, so it won’t be clear whether your child is sorting by color or shape. That’s okay for now because both develop visual discrimination, but you’ll want to make sure there are many other opportunities to work on each individually.

Presentation

When presented with this activity, the child should already be familiar with the single peg variation. Instead of showing them step by step as in previous levels, let them explore and problem-solve. If they do not realize to match the shapes after a while, change the setup and start with the completed version.

• Option 1: Place the 3D objects on the base of the stand on a tray.
• Option 2: Place the completed puzzle on the tray.
• Bring the tray to your child’s work area.
• Present them with the activity and move aside.
• When the child is done, have them help put the objects back on the stand and put them on the tray.
• Return the tray to the shelf.

Easier variations

N/A

Extensions

By using the stand from level 5a, you can force sorting by color so each shape goes on the corresponding colored peg. Once your child has a good grasp on grouping by color or shapes, you can begin to teach the names when they put the object on the peg.

The post Level 5b Threading: Multiple 3D Shapes on a Vertical Dowel appeared first on Mommy on the Spectrum.

Level 5a adds a new dimension to the already mastered “put disc on vertical dowel” activity in level 3. Now, there are 3 colored dowels as well as 3 different colored discs. This activity then becomes a way to introduce sorting by color.

Primary Goals

• Develop visual discrimination, specifically in color.
• Develop fine motor skills.
• Develop hand-eye coordination.

Secondary Goals

• Increase focus and concentration.
• [Math] Introduce understanding size, shape, and patterns.

Approximate age

15 months

Materials

Wooden colored discs on colored dowels

Presentation

When presented with this activity, the child should already be familiar with the single peg variation. Instead of showing them step by step as in previous levels, let them explore and problem-solve. If they do not realize to match the colors after a while, change the setup and start with the completed version.

• Option 1: Place the colored discs in a basket next to the stand on the tray.
• Option 2: Place an empty basket next to the completed puzzle on the tray.
• Bring the tray to your child’s work area.
• Present them with the activity and move aside.
• When the child is done, have them help put the discs back in the basket and put them on the tray.
• Return the tray to the shelf.

Easier variations

A child is just starting to understand different colors (without names). Conceptually, they won’t understand what color is until around 18 months, but they can group and sort by color before then. Help cultivate this awareness with color-themed treasure baskets and books like Edible Colors: See, Learn, Eat, or My First Colors. Note: both of these books include the names of the colors, but they also put several photographs of real objects on the same page. This allows the child to notice the differences. I skip the name of the color unless asked.

Extensions

Once your child has a good understanding of colors and can easily group them, introduce the name. You can then play a game by saying a color and on/off and having them perform the action. If your child knows these words, you have them tell you what to do.

The post Level 5a Threading: Wooden Discs on Colored Dowels appeared first on Mommy on the Spectrum.

With level 4b, we change the shape of the “bead”. Instead of rings, we now use a 3D cube. This allows the child to refine their grip and further improve hand-eye coordination and grip strength.

Primary Goals

• Refine palmar grasp.
• Develop fine motor skills.
• Develop hand-eye coordination.

Secondary Goals

• Develop focus and concentration.

Approximate age

12 months

Materials

We have a few options here.

1. For a dedicated material, you can this cube stacker.
2. Use the cubes from level 5b with the base from level 3.
3. DIY it! Grab a set of wooden blocks and drill a 1/3-inch hole in it to fit a previous base. I really like those blocks because 1) they are already painted and therefore more interesting to the child, and 2) you will continue to use them in future activities, such as stacking or counting (though the ones you drill holes into will be less useful.)

Presentation

• Place the cubes in a basket next to the stand on a tray.
• Bring the tray to your child’s work area.
• Wait until your child is looking.
• Pick up a cube using your whole hand.
• Rotate the cube so the hole is at the top
• Carefully place the cube on the dowel.
• Repeat with the remaining cubes.
• One at a time, remove the cubes from the dowel.
• Offer the child a turn and move aside.
• When the child is done, have them help put the cubes back in the basket and put them on the tray.
• Return the tray to the shelf.

Easier variations

This is the first threading activity with 3D shapes. If your child is having trouble orienting the cubes, give them only that part. Around 11-12 months old, we expect children to stack two blocks. It’s a slightly different skill because stacking involves balance, but it will give them more experience with manipulating the cubes.

Extensions

N/A, go to level 5b.

The post Level 4b Threading: Cubes on a Vertical Dowel appeared first on Mommy on the Spectrum.

This post may contain affiliate links. This simply means that I will earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through a link. I would and have recommended all of the products I list even without a link.

Level 4a introduces the first main variation: different-sized rings. If you remember in level 1, I said to hold off on giving all of the rings at once. At that time, we wanted to focus only on putting a ring on the stick. Now, after months of practice, we expect the child to have become very good at that part, so we can introduce a new skill: distinguishing between different sizes.

Primary Goals

• Develop visual discrimination, specifically size gradation.
• Develop fine motor skills.
• Develop hand-eye coordination.

Secondary Goals

• Develop focus and concentration.

Approximate age

12 months

Materials

This is the most popular stacker that you’ll see in children’s stores, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a version. When looking for materials in our house, I try to stick with wood because I know it’ll go in his mouth and I find it just feels nicer to hold because of the weight. I choose the Melissa & Doug rainbow stacker. I remove the top ball and we also don’t use the last blue and purple rings because they are too big.

Presentation

• Begin with 3 discs. The largest disc should be smaller than the child’s hand and the other two should be as far apart size-wise as possible.
• Bring the tray to your child’s work area.
• Wait until your child is looking.
• One at a time, take the rings out of the basket and place them randomly on the ground.
• Choose the biggest ring and carefully place it on the dowel.
• Choose the middle ring and carefully place it on the dowel.
• Choose the smallest ring and carefully place it on the dowel.
• Pause and notice the differences in sizes.
• One at a time, remove the rings from the dowel and place them randomly on the ground.
• Offer the child a turn and move aside.
• When the child is done, have them help put the rings back in the basket and put them on the tray.
• Return the tray to the shelf.

Easier variations

If a child becomes interested in the different-sized rings but still struggles with the fine motor skills necessary to put them on the dowel, use the Level 1 rocking stacker with all of the rings. This version of the stacker allows for more leeway while still focusing on size discrimination.

Extensions

We can increase the difficulty of the stacking by decreasing the amount of variation between the rings (choosing rings more similar in width) or by adding more rings. However, throughout these changes, the largest ring should remain smaller than the child’s hand.

The post Level 4a Threading: Ring Stacker with Variable Size appeared first on Mommy on the Spectrum.

Level 3 introduces the wooden discs we will use in many of the future levels. The discs have narrower centers, which require the child to be more precise when placing them on the dowel.

Primary Goals

• Develop fine motor skills.
• Develop hand-eye coordination.
• Develop pincer grasp.

Secondary Goals

• Develop concentration and problem-solving skills.

Approximate age

11 months, or as soon as the large rings in level 2 become too easy.

Materials

There are a lot of versions of the discs on a vertical dowel, but I like the one from Adena Montessori because of the base and use of basic colors. The base allows us to add in putting the rings back in place, reinforcing the puzzles we are also working on, while the colored discs become fun additions to color-themed treasure baskets we’ll use throughout the next 6 months.

Presentation

• Begin with the discs in their spots on the base.
• Bring the tray to your child’s work area.
• Wait until your child is looking.
• Using the pincer grasp, pick up a ring from the base.
• Look at it and observe the small hole.
• Put it back in its place in the base.
• Pick up another ring from the base.
• Slowly place it on the dowel.
• Take it back off and place it in the base.
• Repeat with multiple discs.
• Once the child shows interest, allow them to take over and move aside.
• Help the child put everything away when they are done.

Easier variations

There aren’t easier versions with this material. Instead, move back to the large rings in Level 2: Large rings on a vertical dowel. If the child still struggles, look for additional discs with holes between the two sizes, such as these 1in wooden rings.

Extensions

You can add language on top of this by saying “on” and “off” as the child adds and removes the rings.

The post Level 3 Threading: Wooden Discs on a Vertical Dowel appeared first on Mommy on the Spectrum.

The second level introduces a straight vertical dowel with very large rings. Similar to level 1, there is a high margin of error when putting the rings on, which helps to slowly refine hand movements.

Primary Goals

• Develop fine motor skills.
• Develop hand-eye coordination.
• Develop hand, wrist, and finger control.

Secondary Goals

• Develop concentration and problem-solving skills.

Approximate age

10 months

Materials

The first option is to purchase a dedicated toy with a vertical dowel and rings. However, an option I prefer is to use the vertical dowel from a future level, such as level 4b: cubes on the vertical dowel, and only buy unfinished wooden rings. As a bonus, these rings can be hung from a ribbon and used earlier as a grabbing toy.

Presentation

• Place 2-3 rings in a small basket next to the stand with the vertical dowel. These should both be on a tray for an easy transition.
• Bring the tray to your child’s work area.
• Wait until your child is looking.
• Using the pincer grasp, take a ring out of the basket.
• Slowly put the ring on the dowel.
• Repeat by putting on the remaining rings.
• Pause
• Remove a ring by pulling it off the stand and putting it back in the basket.
• Repeat until all rings are removed.
• Once the child shows interest, allow them to take over and move aside.
• Help the child put everything away when they are done.

Easier variations

Sometimes, stacking even a single ring may be too difficult. An easier first step is removing the rings. You could present the stand with rings already on and let your child remove them and place them back in the basket. Another alternative is to have your child hand you the rings and put them on instead. Finally, you can tilt the base towards your child’s hand and hold it steady for them to simplify things.

Extensions

You can add language on top of this by saying “on” and “off” as the child adds and removes the rings, or by counting the number of rings they use.

The post Level 2 Threading: Large Rings on a Vertical Dowel appeared first on Mommy on the Spectrum.

The first level is a traditional ring stacker with a twist: a rocking base and variable-width rod. This helps prevent the frustration that can occur early on from the stand falling over. In other words, a child’s movements don’t have to be precise, which is great because, at this age, they won’t be!

Primary Goals

• Develop fine motor skills.
• Develop hand-eye coordination.
• Develop hand, wrist, and finger control.

Secondary Goals

• Develop concentration and problem-solving skills.

Approximate age

8 months

Materials

The easiest solution is to purchase a rocking stacker. In an ideal world, all of the rings would be the same color, such as from this version from MontiKids, but I like the fact that these rings are rounded making them easier to grasp and, to start, we’re only using one ring so it doesn’t matter much. You could also use the ring stacker described in Level 4a, but assist by holding the base steady and tilting it towards your child.

Presentation

• Begin with only the largest ring placed on the tray next to the stand.
• Bring the tray to your child’s work area.
• Wait until your child is looking.
• Try to place the ring on the base. Don’t get it immediately.
• Bump into the stand to show how it wobbles back and forth.
• Eventually, place the ring on.
• Finally, remove the ring by pulling it off the stand.
• Repeat, this time allowing the child to take the ring off.
• Once the child shows interest, allow them to take over and move aside.
• Help the child put everything away when they are done.

Easier variations

Sometimes, stacking even a single ring may be too difficult. An easier first step is removing the rings. You could present the entire stacker with rings already on and let your child remove them. Another alternative is to have your child hand you the rings and put them on instead. Finally, if the moving base is too difficult, you can tilt it towards your child’s hand and hold it steady for them.

Extensions

You can add language on top of this by saying “on” and “off” as the child adds and removes the rings. You could also use one of the smaller rings to increase the need for precision when putting on the ring. Note: we do not want to use all of the rings at this time because it introduces size and color variations that the child is not ready for. These will be used in future levels.

The post Level 1 Threading: Rocking Stacker appeared first on Mommy on the Spectrum.