9 Printable At the Doctor’s Lacing Cards (Fine Motor Threading Activity)

Grab the yarn, set out the cards and call in the little doctors – the surgery is open! This printable pack of nine At the Doctor’s lacing cards is a lovely calm, hands-on activity for community helpers themes and focused fine motor practice.

Lacing cards like this are a super way to practice and develop fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination, finger strength and dexterity.

And the great thing is, this community helper fine motor activity need only a little prep and a few resources to use.

Would could also pair it with our build a doctor craft.

What Skills Can Your Little Ones Learn And Develop?

These at the doctor’s threading cards are designed to help your children practice and develop some fine motor skills, such as:

• Hand-eye coordination – to be able to understand what they are seeing and get their hands to go where they want them to
• Finger strength – to be able to hold the lace and push it through the holes
• Hand dominance – developing and strengthening the skill of one of their hands
• Finger dexterity – the ability to move fingers in different ways and use different fingers for different tasks

They can also help children practice patience and concentration as they may find it tricky at first and offer a great chance to talk about the different holidays we celebrate.

How To Prepare These Doctor Themed Lacing Cards

First you’re going to want to download the threading cards by clicking on download button at the bottom of the page.

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Then print them off onto paper or card.

You’ll probably want to laminate them to make  them stronger. 

Then use a hole punch to punch out the holes around the edges.

You can make the threading cards easier by punching fewer holes, or more difficult by adding a few more.

That’s pretty much it, just grab some long laces, or yarn and let your little learners practice their fine motor skills in a fun way.

If you are using yarn, you may want to toughen the ends by dipping in some PVA glue and leaving to dry first.

Get Even More Out of This At The Doctor’s Lacing Cards Pack

Here are some lovely ways to get some more out of this pack.

Open the Doctor’s Office

The cards could also make wonderful props for a full doctor’s surgery dramatic play setup. Add a teddy patient, a clipboard, some old bandages and let your little ones take turns being doctor and patient. 

Tiny Tweezers Warm-Up

Before threading begins, set out a little tray of pom-poms, counters or buttons and a pair of tweezers. Your kiddo “fills the medicine bottle” using the tweezers, then moves on to threading. They could even count as they go – how many can it hold?

Talk Through the Tools

Before, during, or after lacing, take a few moments to explore what each item is and how a doctor actually uses them. Why does a stethoscope work? What does the heart monitor’s wavy line mean? It’s a lovely bit of conversation and a chance to ease some of the worry little ones can have about doctor’s visits.

Bunting and Display

Once everything has been threaded, don’t tuck the cards away too quickly. String them up along a long piece of yarn and turn them into community helpers bunting. A lovely visual reminder of all the focused work that went in.

Lace it Up for National Doctors Day

If you’re celebrating National Doctors Day on March 30th, these lacing cards make a perfect quiet activity for the day. Set them out alongside a thank-you-card-making station, talk about all the ways doctors help us and let little hands work on their pincer grasp while you read a doctor-themed picture book aloud. 

However your little doctors-in-training use this pack, I hope they love them!

Enjoy and let’s nurture those neurons!