You buy thisFine motor2½–4 yrsAt home
Threading beads
Chunky wooden beads and a stiff lace.
Threading beadsView on Amazon
View on AmazonPrep
0 min
Mess
None
How to play
Thread a necklace for someone in the family. Then try a pattern: red, blue, red, blue — and see if he can carry it on.
What you need
A set of large threading beads with a lace.
What it secretly builds
Fine motorThreading needs both hands doing opposite jobs at once. Adding a colour pattern turns it into early maths without him noticing.
Safety first
Beads are a choking size. Stay close, and put them away between sessions.