Montessori Braiding Board

Braiding Board – Montessori Practical Life Material

The Montessori Braiding Board introduces children to the coordinated movements required for braiding. Three colored cords are firmly anchored to a hardwood board (30 × 13 × 1.3 cm), allowing children to focus on the crossing sequence without the distraction of loose strings.

Educational Purpose

• Practical Life exercise – develops order, concentration, coordination, and independence.
• Fine motor skills – strengthens finger control, hand–eye coordination, and bilateral movement.
• Preparation for daily life – children refine the motions needed for braiding hair, tying knots, and managing laces.

Presentation Sequence

The Braiding Board is generally introduced after the child has mastered simpler coordination tasks such as:

Lacing activities (threading a cord through holes):
Toddler Threading Activity Tray, Wooden Orchard Set, Wooden Lacing Set, Wooden Lacing Shoe, Lacing Apple, Lacing Cheese, Dinosaur Lacing Toy, Weaving Animals (Set of 3)

Sewing and Dressing Frames:
Lacing Frame, Shoe Lacing Frame, Wooden Lacing Set

Buttoning and Bow Tying:
Introduced on Dressing Frames before moving on to braiding sequences.

At this stage, the child is ready to practice the more complex sequence of crossing three cords to create a braid.

Extension

These movements prepare the child for more advanced handwork such as:

• Knitting Set (Clover & Primrose)
• Wooden Braiding Disc
• Bead Loom
• Wooden Weaving Loom (Small)
• Round Weaving Loom
• Knitting Mushroom

At this point, children extend their skills into bead stringing, weaving, and even simple jewelry making such as friendship bracelets.