No.243
Lacing Cards
Japanese name: 穴あき台紙のひも通し
Materials
- Sturdy paper plates or card with rounded corners
- Short, thick string, about 30–40 cm long
- Tape for wrapping the string’s end
- A hole-making tool for an adult to use
How to play
- An adult makes 4–8 holes about 1 cm across around the card's edge and smooths the cut edges. Wrap a string end with tape to make threading easier.
- Pass the string through one hole and secure its other end to the card so it cannot pull out. Each child holds the card in one hand and the string's free end in the other.
- Choose another hole, push the end through and pull it out with the other hand. Turn the card over and continue through a chosen hole.
- Make any pattern you like: follow holes in order or cross between them like a star. If the string twists, loosen it instead of pulling hard and ask an adult for help.
- Show the finished pattern. To start again, unthread in reverse order from the last hole. Return strings to an adult and put them away without winding them around necks or wrists.
Ways to adapt
Preschool children: four large holes. Younger primary school children: follow an order. Older primary school children: make patterns.