Monday, July 16, 2012

DIY - Montessori Dressing Boards

I am obsessed with Montessori. Not the woman, the toys! (i.e. learning materials). This stuff is so brilliant, but it is also super expensive. Fortunately, a lot of the materials aren't that hard to make with a little ingenuity and some elbow grease. One of my favorite diy Montessori Materials are the dressing boards. Dressing boards are a great way for little ones to work on their hand-eye coordination skills. They're usually for children around 2 and up who are learning to dress themselves, but my daughter was playing with the zipper frame at 13 months old .

These are pretty expensive new, and really easy to make, so it just makes sense to do it yourself. Dollar store wooden frames work great! I used one of my daughters old sweaters, but the other two I got for really cheap at a consignment store.

What you'll need:
  • 5X7 wood frames
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Infant clothing - 3 or 6 months - with zippers, buttons and/or snaps
  • Chip clips or clothespins
  • Staple gun and staples (approx 1/4 inch)

Directions:
  1. Remove the glass and backing from the frames.
  2. Using the pliers, carefully remove the metal tabs from the frames.
  3. Fit the clothing over the frames and lay them button side down.
  4. Bunch up the excess clothing in the back, and secure it with chip clips or clothes pins. (Don't pull to tight or the buttons will be difficult to manipulate)
  5. Staple the clothing onto the frame leaving at least and 1 to 1 1/2 inches between staples.
  6. Remove the chip clips and fold the excess material so it lays flat. Staple it to the frame using the spaces between the first set of staples.


Here are the ones I made. There is a button frame, zipper frame, and snap frame. Next I need to figure out how to make a lacing frame. They just don't seem to make bustiers for infants. ;)




27 comments:

  1. Wow! That makes it so simple! Thanks for sharing!

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  2. What a great idea!! LOVED your "Things my husband doesn't understand" blog as well... so true!! I am following you from the Monday Mom Blog Hop!
    http://lifeonmavenue.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you so much! I loved your post about you daughter. It was so beautiful!

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  3. So adorable! I'm your newest follower from Sassy Shopper Reviews! We have a fun SweetPea Maternity gift card giveaway going on right now if you're interested. Would love a follow back! :)
    http://sassyshopperreviews.blogspot.com/

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  5. What a great idea! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm following you back from What's Cooking the Burbs. Have a great evening!

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  6. Hi Courtney!

    I love the concept behind your blog. I'm sure you will get lots of support and great information from many other moms! Thanks for stopping by the Totally Tuesday Blog Hop at Frugal Living and More. I'm now following you via GFC!

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  7. These days are long behind me, but this is definitely a cool idea and I like you totally agree learning products are expensive to buy brand new. It's great that you're clever enough to make your own. Way to go, Mom! ^.^

    Thanks for linking up with Wayback Wednesdays. I hope you'll join us every week, and feel free to tell your readers about us!

    Now following...~Cathy
    Check out: Brand New Key

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  8. Great idea I wanted to let you know I nominated you for the Liebster Award! Here's the link to my post:
    http://www.dailymesses.com/2012/07/you-like-me-you-really-like-me.html

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    1. You are awesome! Thanks so much! It's my first award!

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  9. Very creative and interesting Courtney. Thanks for sharing on Creative Monday. I am happy to become a Follower of your Blog. Have a good day.

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  10. Hi Courtney!

    These are great little tools/toys for the little ones. So easy and inexpensive to make too.

    Thanks for sharing at my party :)

    xoxo Bunny Jean
    Wednesdays Bunny Hop Party!

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  11. Hi I found your blog through PMP's Wandering Wednesday and I have to say I am so pleased that I did.
    I had been looking for something like this for my daughtre who has sensory special needs and she loves to play with zips and things like that. It was going to cost me a fortune to buy the things for her to play with but your solution is so much easier and a lot cheaper to boot.
    Thank you so very much!

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    1. Wow! It makes me so happy to hear that! I hope she loves them! :)

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  12. Great idea!!! I am visiting from the Welcome Wednesday. I am a new follower! Hope your will stop by http://www.garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/ and do the same. I also have a giveaway going on right now you might be interested in entering! Hope you have a good day!

    Robin

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    1. Great blog! I am a garage sale fanatic so it looks like a good fit for me. :) Thanks for the follow. I followed back.

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  13. Awesome........!!! Loved the colors,thanks for sharing.
    www.blissfulsewing.blogspot.com

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  14. Pretty cool. The lacing one would be great too. Thanks for linking up at Mom's Library!

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  15. What a great DIY! I know that the fine motor skills they would develop would be so beneficial. I would love to invite you to share this on Saturday Show and Tell: (http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/saturday-show-tell-20/). I know my readers would love this as well as some of your other posts. Thanks and have a great weekend!
    -Mackenzie
    http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com

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  16. Very sweet. What a great idea! This is a great teaching tool! Thanks for stopping in and linking up. I hope you enjoyed the party!

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