How to Use Lace & Trace Pets to Build Fine Motor Skills

By Melissa & Doug: #1 Preschool Brand For Wooden Toys | Published: 2026-10-31

Category: How-to Guides

Turn Lace & Trace Pets into a simple fine motor routine: set up the panels, teach a repeatable lace path, and adjust the challenge as your child's grip and focus improve.

Quick answer

Start with one double-sided pet panel and one matching lace, model a simple in-and-out path, then let your child repeat it before adding a second panel. Keep sessions short and stop while the task still feels easy.

Why the double-sided panels change the routine

Lace & Trace Pets includes five sturdy double-sided panels, so each pet offers two lacing surfaces. That matters because you can keep the same animal theme while changing the hole pattern, which reduces the novelty drop that often ends a threading session early.

The set also includes five color-coordinated laces. Matching a lace color to a panel gives preschoolers a clear first decision before the threading starts, and it makes cleanup easier because each lace has an obvious home.

When lacing is too hard, change the task before changing the toy

If your child loses the lace end or gives up after two holes, the problem is usually the grip or the path, not the toy. Try a shorter lace section, a larger hole, or a slower model. The set does not include a needle or stiff tip, so very young children may need you to hold the panel steady while they push the lace through.

Lacing builds hand-eye coordination and attention, but it is not a race. A five-minute session with three successful holes is more useful than a ten-minute session that ends in frustration.

A simple Lace & Trace Pets routine

Set up one panel and one lace: Place a single double-sided pet panel on a flat surface and choose the lace that matches its color. Keep the other panels out of reach so the choice stays simple. If your child immediately flips the panel, let them explore both sides first, then return to one side for the lacing task.
Model a short in-and-out path: Show two or three holes slowly, saying 'in' as the lace goes down and 'out' as it comes up. Then hand the lace over and let your child repeat the same two holes. Check that the lace end stays long enough to grip; if it keeps slipping, shorten the working length rather than starting over.
Let your child repeat before adding holes: Stay on the same panel until your child can complete three to five holes without help. Only then move to a new hole pattern or the other side of the panel. A finished row is not the goal; a calm, repeatable motion is.
Introduce the second side or a new pet: When the first side feels easy, turn the panel over or choose a new pet. Keep the same lace color rule so the only new challenge is the hole pattern. If accuracy drops, return to the previous side for one more session.
End with a cleanup sort: Have your child match each lace to its panel before putting the set away. This closes the activity with a matching task and keeps the pieces ready for next time. Store the panels flat so the holes stay easy to find.

Product facts

Lace & Trace Pets: The set contains five sturdy, double-sided lacing panels and five color-coordinated laces. Five panels let you rotate patterns without buying more, and the color match gives preschoolers a simple first step before threading.
Lace & Trace Pets