Invite a child to come by telling them you have something to show them. Have the child bring the appropriate dressing frame and have them place it on a specific spot on the table you will be working at. Have the child sit down first, and then you sit down to the child’s right. Tell the child that you will be showing him how unbuckle and buckle. Give the names of each part.
Unbuckling
(Place the frame so the tongue is laying on the left.)
Pinch the mettle buckle loop with your right thumb and index finger.
Rotate the mettle loop to left.
Pinch the tip of the strap with your left thumb and index finger.
Push gently to the left until the strap is pushed through the mettle loop almost completely.
Place your left index finger through the lifted part of the strap and pinch the other side with your left thumb.
Pull the strap through the mettle loop completely and place it so it lays down flat.
Remove your left fingers and then your right.
Repeat these movements for the other four buckles working your way from the top to the bottom.
Pinch the tip of the strap with your right thumb and index finger and pull to the right.
Pull taught.
Place your left index finger under the pin and rotate to the left until it lays flat.
Lift your left finger and then remove your right fingers.
Repeat for the other four buckles working your way down.
Pinch the sides of the far right part of the buckle with your left thumb and index finger.
Rotate the buckle to the left so that it is perpendicular to the material.
Pinch the part of the tongue directly to the right of the buckle with your right thumb and index finger and pull the tongue completely out.
Replace the buckle down flat and remove your left fingers.
Place the tongue down flat and remove your right fingers.
Repeat for the other four buckles.
Open the right flap and then the left.
Close the left flap and then the right.
Buckling
(Starting with the top buckle)
Pinch the tongue near the tip with your right thumb and index finger and rotate to the right.
Pinch the sides of the right part of the buckle with your left thumb and index finger and rotate to the left so that it is perpendicular to the material.
Position the tip of the tongue so that it goes through the buckle hole.
Once it is in about half way, remove your right fingers.
Fully rotate the buckle down to the right and remove your fingers.
Repeat for the other four buckles.
Pinch the tip of the tongue with your right thumb and index finger.
Rotate fully to the right and pull taught.
Place your left index finger under the pin and rotate it to the right.
Position the pin so that it goes into the hole in the tongue.
Remove your left finger.
Rotate your right hand fully to the left so that the tongue is lying flat and remove your right fingers.
Repeat for the other four buckles.
Pinch the sides of the mettle loop with your left thumb and index finger.
Pinch the tongue at about 1/3 from the tip with your right thumb and middle finger and place your index finger on the tongue between your other two fingers.
Position the tip of the tongue so that it goes through the mettle loop.
Gently slide the tongue fully through the mettle loop with your right fingers.
Remove your right fingers and then your left.
Repeat for the other four buckles.
Once done, offer the child the opportunity to unbuckle and buckle.
Purpose
Direct: To help them learn how to unbuckle and buckle themselves.
Indirect: Acquiring coordination of movement.
Points of Interests Pulling the tongue taught to be able to take out the pin for unbuckling.
Age 3 1/2 - 4 years
Notes You may want to ask the child where he has seen a buckle before to have him associate what he is about to do to his clothing.
Video This Montessori Video shows how to present a child with the Dressing Frame - The Buckle
