Beading Benefits

Today we focused on a beading activity.  

Here is a summary of the beading benefits:

Beading encourages children to use their pincer grasp, thus strengthening the small muscles of their hands.  Picking a bead up from the beading tray, and then manipulating it in one's hand until it is pinched between  thumb and finger, involves translation, shift and rotation movements of the bead within the hand.  Threading beads onto a string involves bilateral coordination of the child's hands, and requires their eyes and hands to work together. 

Overall Developmental Benefits of Beading: 

* Improved fine motor, visual perceptual, visual motor and cognitive skills

* Improved dressing skills (especially clothing fasteners, like buttons and zippers)

* Improved pencil grasp and pencil control during colouring and writing activities

* And last but not least, Beading can provide a sense of accomplishment in completing a project that offers freedom of self-expression and improved self-esteem. 

The children felt very pleased with their hard work and focus!