What are the first threading/lacing materials you use at home or in your classroom? Perhaps threading beads? With Otis we used pasta (penne) and cotton reels but with Otto, I noted that it was easier if the items where much thinner. Otto's first threading activity was using the wood pieces pictured above. 

1. Wooden Disks - completely natural, handmade by a small business. I love the texture too. If you had a drill this could be a DIY.

2. Oversized Buttons - later these will be useful for colour and language work. These also stack so could be used like colour tokens and for patterning.

I love observing the toddler's development of the pincer (fantastic to see Otto!). Also, the concentration was so good on this one. I strongly believe that toddlers are capable of deep concentration and that a child who is able to concentrate will be calmer, more satisfied and fulfilled. 

3. Wheel/Rotelle Pasta - these were free (well, they were in our cupboard) and are completely biodegradable/compostable. They are on the small side but it just makes it a little more challenging (see Otto's grasp). I don't put these on Otto's shelves but keep them in the kitchen and pull out when needed.

4. Milk Lids - I used a nail and a hammer to make the hole in the lid and then inserted a skewer to make the hole larger. I didn't have many lids but I will start collecting and perhaps see if I can find cartons with different colour lids. Why buy when you can reuse! We already had the shoelace so this was free.