Help your little one make a learning pal from felt or fun textured fabric such as faux fur. Cut out the shape of a bear, kitten, puppy, or any animal your child likes. You can find simple pictures in preschool age coloring books or coloring pages on line. Cut one out and trace it onto the back of the fabric.
Glue on eyes made from felt or some large googly eyes. Make a smile from red yarn, felt, or a pipe cleaner. Make simple clothing (you only need the front) to dress the new pal. Make a long coat from felt, and add a button on one side and a buttonhole on the other. It doesn’t have to be a perfect buttonhole, just a small slit in the fabric that is the appropriate size for the button. Below, add a snap and on the other side a snap receptacle (or add several buttons and snaps).
Make sleeves that zip up. If you are not big on sewing, the simplest way to do this is to remove the entire zipper portion from an old article of clothing that you no longer need and then glue the outside edges to the pal’s arms. Make a hat that stays on with Velcro, and make felt shoes that tie. Simply cut lace holes into the felt then glue the entire “shoe” onto the foot section. You can use yarn or real shoelaces. Teach your child to lace up shoes and to tie them.
You can make additional outfits from other fabric, such as leftover denim from cut offs or use scraps of pretty fabric to make a dress for female pals. Add hair ribbons for extra practice with tying.
This is a fun way to help your child learn to button, snap, zip, and tie so he or she can begin to learning dressing him or herself.