In my previous blog, I highlighted the therapeutic benefits
of beading. Well an article written by
Kimberly Voaden confirmed my findings: http://www.beadingbuds.com/developmental-benefits-of-beading-for-children.
Here is her wonderful article
As an Occupational Therapist with over 7 years experience working with children
of all ages, I can strongly endorse beading as an excellent leisure activity,
promoting childrens' development in the following areas:
Fine Motor Skills:
Grasping: Various sizes of
beads promote different grasps. Larger beads often promote the "3-jaw
chuck" grasp, similar to holding a large pencil or marker. Smaller
beads encourage children to use their pincer grasp, thus strengthening the
small muscles of their hands.
In-hand manipulation skills: Many
components of making a beaded craft increase strength and coordination in the
small hand and finger muscles. For example, picking a bead up from the beading
tray, and then manipulating it in one's hand until it is pinched between
your thumb and finger, involves translation, shift and rotation movements of
the bead within the hand.
Visual Perceptual Skills:
Visual Discrimination, Scanning, Visual Memory: The child must be able to remember
the beading pattern to determine the bead they want to use. Once they know
what bead they want, visual discrimination assists them in selecting the bead
that fits their mental image of the desired bead. Finally, the child must scan
across many different beads before finding the desired bead.
Visual Motor Skills:
Eye-Hand coordination: Threading beads onto a string involves
bilateral coordination of the child's hands, and requires their eyes and hands
to work together.
Cognitive Skills:
Overall Developmental Benefits of Beading:
Planning: What style of necklace does the child want to
make? What pattern will they choose? Where are all the materials needed to
complete this beading activity? By answering these questions, the child
develops his/her planning and problem-solving skills.
Math
Skills: How long
will my necklace, bracelet, or keychain need to be? How many beads do I need to
complete this project? How can I create and maintain this beading pattern?
Encouraging children to think through these functional math problems is a
motivating way to improve academic skills in this area.
Social Skills
Beading Parties promote sharing and cooperation, as children
choose beads and complete their projects in a group setting.
* 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
* Improved visual perception and better planning often help a
child to become more organized (e.g. Where is that sock? Where did I put my
pencil case or favourite toy? Do I have everything I need to complete my
homework?)
* And last but not least, Beading can provide a sense of
accomplishment in completing a project that offers freedom of
self-expression and camaraderie with other party-goers. This sense of
"Occupational Fulfillment" can contribute to improved
self-esteem.
**In other words, Beading is just plain FUN, and FUN is good for
kids!!**
Accommodations for Children with Special Needs:
Beading can still be a special and fun party activity for some children with
special needs.
For children with difficulty using their hands and fingers, try:
1) Using larger beads that have larger holes.
2) Wrapping stiff tape around the end of the beading string, to crate a long
"shoelace" style tip that may be easier to push through beads.
3) Work with an assistant- one person can hold the string, and the other
can put the beads on the string.
4) Children with severe physical difficulties may still be able to direct how
they wish their necklace to be made. Every effort to honour their wishes
by allowing them to participate as much as possible will provide them with a
successful experience.
5) Provide comfortable seating, with child's feet touching floor, or supported
on footstool, sitting at appropriately sized chair and table.
For children with Visual Impairments, try the following accommodations:
1) Use large, brightly coloured , textured beads, and brightly coloured or
textured string (e.g. fuzzy yarn).
2) Place beads on background of contrasting colour (e.g. light or
coloured beads on black paper, and dark beads on light paper).
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