Button Frame
From Montessori Album
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| Button Frame | |
|---|---|
| Practical Life - Dressing | |
 | |
| Level | Primary |
| Age | 3 - 5 |
| Prerequisites | Grasping Transfer |
| Materials | Button Frame |
In this activity the child learns how to button and unbutton.
Presentation
- Take the button frame to a table or mat.
- Pinch the button in the right hand and pull the button-hole open with the left hand.
- Guide the button half-way through the button-hole.
- Pull back the fabric and take the button out the rest of the way.
- Do the same with the rest of the buttons.
- To close the buttons, push half of the button through the button-hole.
- Pull the button with the right hand and pull the button-hole open with the left to allow the button to pass through.
Points of Interest
Control of Error
Variations and Extensions
- button frames with large and small buttons are available
Button Snake
A fun variation on the button frame is a button snake or felt snake. You will need a ribbon with a button sewn at one end, and squares of felt with button holes cut to match the size of the button. The button is pushed through the hole in a felt square, and then you slide the square down the ribbon.
- You can sew a button at one end and glue a felt square near the other end:
- Source: Jonah Lisa Land
- You can also sew a button on both ends of the ribbon:
- Source: What Did We Do All Day?
- You can also sew the end of the ribbon in a loop:
- Source: Counting Coconuts
- The felt can be cut into different shapes:
- Source: Counting Coconuts
Material
Make Your Own
Where to Buy
Prices and links checked: 23 January 2022
| Large Buttons | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Adena | $11.94 |
| Affordable Montessori | $20.00 |
| Affordable Montessori | $16.00 |
| Alison's for toddlers |
$15.75 |
| Alison's (for toddlers) |
$29.99 |
| Bruins | $45.00 |
| E & O | $39.60 |
| IFIT | $11.00 |
| Kid Advance | $13.99 |
| Lord Co. | $19.25 |
| Materials Co. of Boston | $33.00 |
| Montessori Concepts | $15.00 |
| Montessori Outlet | $14.95 |
| Nienhuis | $43.75 |
| Thinkamajigs | $15.95 |
| Small Buttons | |
|---|---|
| Store | Price |
| Adena | $11.94 |
| Affordable Montessori | $16.00 |
| Alison's | $16.53 |
| Alison's | $16.53 |
| Alison's | $29.99 |
| Bruins | $45.00 |
| E & O | $39.60 |
| IFIT | $17.00 |
| Kid Advance | $13.99 |
| Materials Co. of Boston | $33.00 |
| Montessori Concepts | $15.00 |
| Montessori Outlet | $14.95 |
| Nienhuis | $43.75 |
| Thinkamajigs | $15.95 |
| Lord Co. | $19.25 |
Further Reading
- Basic Montessori: Learning Activities for Under-fives by David Gettman, pages 44-46
- Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Pre-School Years by Elizabeth G. Hainstock, pages 23, 91
- Teach Me to Do It Myself by Maja Pitamic, pages 20-21
