Life Skill Activity for Toddlers – DIY Zipper Board
This DIY zipper board is an easy-to-make life skill activity for toddlers. It’s such a fun way for kids to learn how to zip up and down! Keep on reading to find the simple instructions on how to make one yourself!
A Life Skill Activity for Learning How to Zip and Unzip
Life skills are exactly what they sound like – skills that we will use throughout the course of our life! There are a lot of life skills that kids can start practicing at an early age – zipping, buttoning, cutting, washing, brushing – to name a few!
And this zipper board has the zipping and unzipping category covered!
Learning practical life skills like this at an early age not only allow kids to be independent, but can also provide grown ups relief by allowing their kids the opportunity to learn to dress themselves!
Watch this Life Skill Activity in Action!
There are loads of sensory boards and books you can buy (and I have some really good recommendations for them below!). But there are also easy life skill activities like this that we can make ourselves!
In this video, you’ll see how much fun my 1 year old and 3 year old had practicing the skill of zipping this colorful board over and over again! It is one of those DIY items that made it’s rotation in our play room just as much as a store bought toy!
Watch this Life Skill Activity in Action!
There are loads of sensory boards and books you can buy (and I have some really good recommendations for them below!). But there are also easy life skill activities like this that we can make ourselves!
In this video, you’ll see how much fun my 1 year old and 3 year old had practicing the skill of zipping this colorful board over and over again! It is one of those DIY items that made it’s rotation in our play room just as much as a store bought toy!
Tips for Creating This DIY Zipper Board
Colorful Set of Zippers. It is not necessary at all to have all of these colors, however it is a great opportunity to talk about colors during the activity to build on language development and vocabulary!
Glue. When gluing down the zippers make sure you keep the glue as far away as possible to the zipper itself. If it gets inside the zipper, it will be really tricky to zip it up and down without it getting stuck in the dried glue!
Cardboard. This is definitely a fun activity to save cardboard for! Cardboard is such a great DIY resource for kids activities since it is durable and basically free (if you get as many packages as we do!).
All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.
Materials
- Cardboard
- Zippers
- Cardboard
- Zippers
- Hot Glue Gun
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Get a piece of cardboard that is square in size and large enough to hold multiple zippers.
Step 2
Apply hot glue to the material on the side of the zippers making sure to leave plenty of space from the zippers themselves.
Step 3
Let the glue dry completely, and that’s it!
Step 1
Get a piece of cardboard that is square in size and large enough to hold multiple zippers.
Step 2
Apply hot glue to the material on the side of the zippers making sure to leave plenty of space from the zippers themselves.
Step 3
Let the glue dry completely, and that’s it!
More Ways to Strengthen Fine Motor Skills
The greatest benefit of creating this zipper board is strengthening the muscles and coordination in the hands in fingers to move the zipper up and down. In other words, strengthening fine motor skills!
When your kiddo is ready, cutting activities are another great way to practice this skill! This free printable haircutting activity is so much fun and will allow your kiddos to strengthen their fine motor skills while also learning the practical life skill of cutting!
For more fine motor skills activities, visit our comprehensive list!
More Ways to Strengthen Fine Motor Skills
The greatest benefit of creating this zipper board is strengthening the muscles and coordination in the hands in fingers to move the zipper up and down. In other words, strengthening fine motor skills!
When your kiddo is ready, cutting activities are another great way to practice this skill! This free printable haircutting activity is so much fun and will allow your kiddos to strengthen their fine motor skills while also learning the practical life skill of cutting!
For more fine motor skills activities, visit our comprehensive list!
Top Picks for Strengthening Practical Life Skills
Here are some great gifts for continuing to strengthen practical life skills!
Fabric Busy Book
This high quality fabric busy book is jam packed with practical life and fine motor skill activities! From dressing, to tying, buckling, and beyond!
Sensory Bowls and Tools
Scooping, pouring, and transferring are all important practice life skills! This set of wooden bowls, scoops, and a tong are great for sensory play!
Screw Driver Board
This car shaped screw driver board is a fun way for kids to learn how to screw and thread real life objects while using real life tools!
Activity Board
This alligator shaped busy board will help young kids learn even more practical life skills. It is lightweight and folds into a book for easy carrying on the go!
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