My son is delayed in fine motor skills, and before he graduated from preschool his teacher recommended we work over the summer to help build his strength. Lacing and tracing were a couple of the activities she suggested, so when I found the Lace & Trace Vehicles by Melissa & Doug , I thought it fit the bill.

The Lace & Trace Vehicles is a wooden set of panels with holes punched close to the edge so one can thread laces through the holes. The holes are close together, less than an inch, so there’s a lot of threading in and out if one chooses to use each hole. The panels are made of hardboard and are covered with paper images. The pictures appear on both sides, so children can choose to sew with the image facing left, or right. This may seem silly to some, but for those who are left-handed, and, or with delayed motor skills, it does make a difference to choose the grasp. The pictures have a plastic coating covering them, so they are shiny, and are quite durable.

The Lace & Trace Vehicles includes a wooden box with lid, 7 laces, and 7 panels: a train, a hot air balloon, a car, an airplane, a fire truck, a ship, and a school bus. The laces are long at a yard and a half, and color coordinate with the panels. For instance, the car is green, green lace. The school bus is yellow, yellow lace, and so forth. The toy is recommended for children 3-years and up, and is guaranteed non-toxic.


Our Experience:
William was five when I bought this set, but I wish I knew earlier, (when he was three) that something so simple would help to strengthen his muscles. When he first started playing with this toy, he really struggled. In fact, it wasn’t fun at all. I worked with him a lot over the summer, and in time he picked up the lacing skill. At six, he doesn’t fight “sewing” as he calls it, but it’s not a favorite activity of his. The tracing aspects are the opposite of a typical stencil, which has a hole in the center, and one uses the inside edge. Tracing these panels is more challenging because kids are tracing around the panels, which requires more strength. This was also tough for the little guy, but he likes tracing and coloring more than lacing. William likes the train panel best, but when asked about the toy, his only response was that the car was the only vehicle, and therefore the toy should be called Lace & Trace Transportation like his transportation puzzle made by the same company.

William’s had this toy for over a year now, yet it still looks new. There are a few scuffmarks on the panels, but that’s to be expected. The wooden storage box is very practical, and compact. It stores all the panels and laces easily, and shelves anywhere. The only slight hazard is that kids may wrap the laces around their necks, so supervision may be required. The Lace & Trace Vehicles retails for $7.99, but I picked it up for half price on eBay. Melissa & Doug make several other sets including Lace & Trace Shapes, Lace & Trace Pets, and Lace & Trace Animals. If you’re looking for a compact activity for a preschooler, or a child with delayed motor skills, check out this line of products.

Melissa & Doug
P.O. Box 590, Westport, CT 06881
1800-284-3948
www.melissaanddoug.com/



Additional Melissa & Doug Reviews:
Band in a Box
Stacking Train
Alphabet Art Puzzle
Dinosaur Stamp Set
Unit Blocks in a Tray
Transportation Puzzle
Fire Truck Peg Puzzle
Pattern Blocks & Boards
Farm Cube Wood Puzzle
Jumbo Knob Puzzle: Shapes





Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): $3.00
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years