Learning with wool

Use wool to create toys and games at home

Wool is a tremendous resource and is extremely versatile. It is a natural material that is easily adapted to suit children of all ages.

In this video, LEYF teacher, Ricky will be demonstrating three activities that you can do at home. These activities relate to three different age groups – 0-2s, 2-3s and 3-5s.

You will need:

• any odds of wool
• scissors

What to do

For babies, you can make pom poms, using just wool, scissors and your fingers. These are a great addition to a sensory or treasure basket at home.

The more wool you use, the denser your pom pom will be. You can mix colours to make a fun and funky pom pom.

Learning and development

For toddlers, create an obstacle course using the wool and the furniture you already have in your room. It is a great physical activity to get toddlers moving, but also helps their neurological development, as they need to judge where they need to place their bodies to avoid touching the strings.

For pre-school children, the wool can be used for weaving, which is a physical, mathematical and creative learning experience. Weaving supports hand-eye coordination and the development of the pincer grip. Children also need to work out how long to make their piece of wool to make sure it reaches the end.