home › This is interesting › Do-it-yourself developing rug: elements, principles, ideas. Do-it-yourself educational rugs for children: how to sew a rug with arcs and sides, a game, double-sided and puzzle rug

Do-it-yourself developing rug: elements, principles, ideas. Do-it-yourself educational rugs for children: how to sew a rug with arcs and sides, a game, double-sided and puzzle rug

They know how multifaceted a children's rug can be. With your own hands you can make a massage, floor, developing, sensory, playful, bedside, "puzzle", stylish rug.

Round woven rugs

For most people, the mat performs only one function - to protect their feet from cold linoleum, tiles, and floors. Therefore, craftswomen knit, weave, sew rectangular ones, from different materials, taking into account their location.

There are warm woolen rugs by the bed. One of the options for their creation is weaving. To do this, cut old knitted things into wide identical strips so that you can then process the edges by folding the pieces along the long side. Divide the flaps into three piles to sew three ribbons.

Now you sew the top of the strips, start weaving the braid to the end. Then fold it in a spiral, stitching the sides together. And in order for the rug to last longer, sew a dense fabric to the wrong side (as for furniture upholstery).

You can also make children's floor (cotton, chintz, jeans, terry towels), just sort the fabric by texture. Fringe can be sewn to the edges.

From fabric

Old jeans make good rugs, using a variety of parts (pockets, thick fabric, like on a belt, the jeans themselves, labels). But it will take a lot of time to get the right amount of these elements, so take the remaining fabric, cut it into narrow strips (about 2-2.5 centimeters wide).

Sew roses from the stripes. The principle is the same as in the manufacture of satin flowers. Twist the edge of the fabric with a tube, then, twisting and turning the tape, form a petal, fixing it with threads. Sew the prepared roses to the basis of the carpet (maybe also from jeans). It turns out a dense flower rug.

But fabric can also be patterned rugs. Just cut the cover base and plot applications. It can be fairy-tale favorite characters or an arbitrary, for example, marine theme. Then sew the applications to the fabric base. If you need a dense coating, then sew its upper part with the lining filler and the wrong side of the mat.

Do-it-yourself developing children's rug: master class

The developing rug differs from the previous “pictorial” coating in removable, multifunctional, educational orientation. Depending on the age of the child, his interests, the product will have one or another plot. The advantage of such rugs is that applications that are boring to the child can be replaced with new elements.

To make developing children's rugs with toys for a baby, you will need fabric, synthetic winterizer, hoop, fasteners, and other accessories. First, cut out the outer and inner parts of the rug, the padding lining (so many layers to be soft for the child) by the meter.

Next, sew different pieces of colored fabric to the “face” of the rug. For example, four rectangles 21.5 cm wide, 63 cm long and 100 cm long, a square with a side of 63 cm. In this case, place applications only on rectangles. Sew all layers of the carpet.

Make two arcs from the hoop, wrap it with padding polyester, insert it into sewn fabric “bags”. With the help of fasteners, the crossed arches stand steadily even with hanging rattles.

Developing rug for younger preschoolers

Baby rugs with toys are also good for preschoolers. The cover is sewn without arcs, which simplifies the sewing process. The rug can be divided into sections that are connected by one plot or arranged randomly. For example, it may have the following sectors:

an apple with diagonal rings: if you pull on them, the worm peeks out or hides;
a fence with buttons, where the crossbars are designed for weaving;
a pond with lightning, from where a fish can be pulled out by a rope;
a house with a closed door (with Velcro), behind which the mouse is hiding;
flower-seven-flower, which has petals with different fillers;
a truck with buttons on the wheels and a load (geometric shapes) on strings;
mitten with a belt for the development of the sensory sphere;
pockets with buttons, where parts of the house and Christmas trees are located, which need to be stuck on Velcro from below.

The rug can be sewn in one piece. For example, make the plot of your favorite fairy tale with removable voluminous applications using all kinds of fabrics, fillings, fasteners.

Do-it-yourself massage children's rug

For children, massage covers are simply necessary. The easiest option is to make a path out of squares with different surfaces:

plastic lids upside down;
corks from wine bottles (both whole and cut to length);
flat large pebbles;
glass stones "Marbles" (available in flower or needlework departments);
smooth planks;
buttons;
plastic grills for the sink;
plastic tubes;
pencils or from felt-tip pens a case lined with a ladder;
rubber balls, wooden;
artificial grass;
a very soft rug with long fibers (available in the house cleaning department);
fabric pockets with cereals, salt, legumes, chestnuts, acorns;
pompoms from different yarns, polyethylene;
rope, ropes lined with a snake, a geometric figure;
traces of feet and hands from linoleum, plastic, rubber rugs.

Please note that chestnuts, acorns need to be washed, dried in the oven, otherwise they will mold, give off an unpleasant odor. Natural material, like cereals, is best placed in removable pockets or zippers.

Another option

You can sew a multifunctional large children's rug with a massage and development bias. The coverage can be made thematic: seasons, overcoming obstacles, mathematics, a fairy tale ... At the same time, first think over the tasks, their image, material.

For example, a math carpet has the following tasks:

geometric shapes from "Marbles" stones, pebbles, lids, corks;
large, small, wide, narrow, short, long figures;
forms by color from colored caps;
an account of daisies with a different number of petals, fabric ones with a different number of spots;
figures lined with ropes.

The material is best done on one square (30 x 30 cm) with fastening (velcro, buttons, buttons). That is, if you need to fix the color and shape, you construct a geometric field from the details. Of course, this is laborious work, but you can supplement the rug with new tasks. Such small squares can be used for hand massage, supplementing them with removable "sensory" applications.

Thread rugs

You can also make a children's one. For this, you need yarn, fabric, a tool, unlimited patience. Using cardboard blanks, forks, make dense pompoms of different sizes (for rigidity, do not spare the threads). You need a lot of them (do not cut off the ends of the pompoms).

Next, cut a circle on the grid, process the edges. Crochet the ends of the balls through the holes in the mesh, tie in a knot. Keep the pom-poms close to each other. Then sew the mesh with pompons to a dense fabric. The first rug is ready.

The second option is simpler in execution, but also laborious. Crochet a piece of thread into each hole in the mesh, tighten it like a fringe. So you can lay out any pattern. At the final stage, sew the mesh with a dense fabric.

The third version of the rug made of threads is especially painstaking. Wind the yarn tightly on cardboard blanks (the width of the cardboard corresponds to the length of the pile of the mat). Sew the winding from one edge with a needle and thread, cut it from the other (remove the cardboard). Pass the resulting fringe in the center with a typewriter. So you make new rows, sewing them tightly to each other.

Volumetric models

How to sew a rug in a short period of time so that it is comfortable to lie or play on it? Just take the fabric, filler, zippers, sewing machine. First, cut the material to the size of the rug. It is better to take a dense waterproof fabric for the bottom.

For example, cut out two long rectangles. Three sides were stitched from the wrong side, turned inside out. Now with soap on the long side, mark five sectors, sew. It turned out a bag of five sectors. Sew a zipper into each department, stuff with padding polyester. The first rug is ready.

If you are not deprived of time, then sew a rug from balls. Cut out the same circles from the fabric, bait them, put a synthetic winterizer, tighten the thread. Lay out the balloon pattern. Measure the dimensions of the rug, cut the fabric under the base. Sew on the balls, processing the edges of the cover.

For knitters, there is a fashionable and time-consuming option. Tie a fillet net. Draw its dimensions on the sheet, draw a pattern in the cells. Then enter a hook of a certain color and knit double crochets according to the pattern.

"Gift" covers

Children's floor mats can be a wonderful gift, just need to choose a non-standard plot.

Developing hippo mat for babies. The child sees a hippopotamus on the floor, can study parts of the muzzle and body (the head is convex), develop sensory perception through a variety of fillers, applications.
Stylish autumn rug for girls. Sew up the base of the cover with multi-colored leaves (felt or woolen).
Summer mat. The idea is the same as the previous cover, only the fabric (base) is sewn up with pansies.
Puzzle mat with removable appliqués inspired by logic games.
Glowing in the dark. Tie a closed LED strip with a rope using a hook, tie it in a circle, leaving the end for connecting to the power supply.
Theatrical mat illustrating the plot of your favorite fairy tale. In this version, the applications are large, without a background. For example, a rug with a fox, a hare in a forest clearing suggests applications of animals, hemp, trees, flowers, bushes, grass.

Puzzle flooring

The puzzle mat decorates the interior, develops motor skills, logic, imagination in children and brightens up family evenings. It is a set of huge elements.

There are several coverage options:

flat puzzles from old carpet, purchased rubber mats;
voluminous parts made of fabric, filled with padding polyester;
puzzles in the form of animals;
elements with applications that are on different parts.

The fastening of such rugs is also different:

puzzles are attached due to their shape (convex and concave parts);
connection of elements due to adhesive tape;
fastening with buttons;
parts are connected with buttons.

To make a "puzzle" cover, cut out a full-size carpet shape from cardboard. Draw patterns with notches and raised details. Cut them out. For each puzzle, you make two patterns (front and back). You also cut the same sidewall strips, due to which volume is created. Sew the puzzle details to the side blank, fill with padding polyester, sew to the end. So sew all the details.

Do not rush to buy an expensive baby rug. With your own hands, you can make any coating. For babies, you can only purchase arcs if your spouse cannot help, and sew the rug itself better than the store. And with an adult child, you can choose a design and make a cover together. Take your time, as such a rug can please more than one generation.

Despite the great variety of educational mats for children in stores, very often we cannot choose a specific model. And this is not surprising, all babies are special. But it is difficult to determine exactly what is their peculiarity in the first weeks of life. Therefore, usually the choice either falls on all rugs at once, or none of them fit our needs.

If you still can’t decide on the choice of rug, then know what you can create with your own hands! Enough desire and knowledge of the basic principles of their design. What will we talk about next.

Basic requirements for do-it-yourself rugs

Even if you already know exactly what type of rug you need, take your time to grab a needle and fabric. It is very important not to forget that developing rugs become the main toy of your baby for a long time, a faithful companion and assistants in mastering the world. Therefore, for starters, it is worth studying the basic requirements for such rugs, and only after proceeding to their tailoring.

Attention to detail

The best child psychologists are working on the development of modern rugs and high-tech equipment is used, but handmade rugs have their own number of advantages:

you choose the materials for the rug yourself and are sure of their safety,
you decide how many games and game elements will be on the mat,
you yourself form the size of the playing field of the future rug, and it can be very different from the standard ones offered by world manufacturers,
your rug will be created exclusively for your baby, it will take into account his features and preferences, his love for certain games, as well as colors.

That is why, until now, most mothers prefer to sew developing mats for children with their own hands.

But before you start sewing such a rug, you need to remember a few important requirements for work, so as not to be disappointed with the result.

1) If you are going to develop the fine motor skills of the baby, then choose different objects that will perform this function.

The monotony will quickly get tired of the child, and he will lose interest in the game.

2) If you want the mat to serve you for a long time, leave free space for adding new games.

In the first days of life, the baby will be more and more interested in playing with large details, images and beads, but the older he gets, the smaller and more detailed the subsequent sectors will be.

3) For the base of the rug, choose bright colors, but not flashy or glossy, so that the baby's eyes do not get tired and the passion for the game does not disappear.

4) Think over the arrangement of sectors and game elements on the canvas so that they not only include the maximum benefit as an educational game, but also harmoniously fit into the overall idea.

The field must be logically built, otherwise the child will not see the final goal and soon his interest in the game will disappear.

Do not forget that the main purpose of the rug is the development of your baby in a playful way. And therefore it is very important that it be interesting, fun and informative.

To create a do-it-yourself developmental rug for children, you will need a lot of different materials. But this does not mean that it should be full of beads, laces and randomly stuck Velcro, which will only interfere and confuse the baby.

First you need to think over the main theme of the rug, decide on its main tasks and functions, and then start stocking up on materials.

The first thing you need to sew a developmental rug is fabric.

It is needed both for creating the base and for most of the applications that will decorate the playing field. Therefore, when choosing it, pay attention to the following:

non-slip fabric is suitable for the wrong side so that the rug does not crawl on the floor,
for the base, a solid, dense fabric is more suitable so that it can withstand frequent use of the rug,
thin fabrics are suitable for decor and applications - chintz, calico, cotton,
for rustling elements, choose raincoat fabric, artificial silk,
for games aimed at developing tactile sensations, velvet, suede, velvet, and are more suitable.

As you can see, it takes a lot of fabric to create a developmental rug.

Do not forget about the fittings, which play an important role here:

, zippers and teach children to fasten parts;
elastic bands will help to hide and get individual game elements, as well as depict natural phenomena. For example, rain or the sun peeking out from behind the clouds;
beads, sequins and multi-colored pebbles will attract attention and develop the perception of the color of the crumbs.

Take a look around, not only sewing accessories can help you create a developmental rug. Everything will go:

peas, beans, millet and buckwheat - as a filler and the creation of rustling toys;
woolen threads - as an imitation of grass or animal hair;
bright candy wrappers - as inserts and sound effect.

And this is not the whole list of materials that may be useful to you. Each rug is unique, just like its owner. Therefore, you decide what suits you to create it.

Do not forget only that all materials must be natural and not hazardous to the health of the baby.

Sew small details firmly, and choose the fabric wisely so that it does not shed and does not paint children's palms.

We create a developing mat for children with our own hands

As we have already said, developing mats for children are different. They differ not only in size and content, but also in purpose, because they are created for the specific age of the baby. Therefore, first decide how long you want the rug to serve you, and only what suits you best. And we will try to figure out how to create the basis and how to complement the playing field of the most common types of children's rugs.

Do-it-yourself rug with arcs

Since rugs with arcs and sides are best suited for infants, it is worth creating them in bright colors.

In addition to the previously mentioned materials in the form of fabric and accessories, we also need arcs. A gymnastic hoop or metal-plastic pipes will help us with this.

Therefore, to create a developing mat with arcs, we need:

plain fabrics of bright colors - coarse calico, chintz, cotton;
non-slip fabric for the back of the mat;
synthetic winterizer;
gymnastic hoop with an approximate diameter of 65 cm or 3-4 meters of a metal-plastic pipe.

First, decide on the size of the rug itself.

The most common size of a developing mat with arcs is considered to be 90x90 cm, but you can decide for yourself what area your baby's playing field will be.

Rug base

Cut out a square of the desired size from the main fabric for the front side of the rug and the same size from the non-slip fabric, which will become the reverse side. Sew them together and turn right side out, but leave enough opening for stuffing.

To make it soft to lie and turn over on the rug, insert several layers of synthetic winterizer into the resulting blank and then sew everything up.

So that the synthetic winterizer inside the rug does not move or crumple, quilt the future rug (all layers of synthetic winterizer and fabric), manually or on a sewing machine.

So we have created the basis for the developmental rug, which can be decorated immediately or over time with toys and applications for your fidget.

arcs

Now let's move on to arcs.

If you have chosen a gymnastic hoop, then you first need to cut it in half to get a frame. Then the arcs must be made safer and softer. Therefore, we again take out the synthetic winterizer and wrap the blanks with it.

When the arc is not visible under the synthetic winterizer layer, and you consider it as soft and safe as possible for the baby, take a fabric, sew a long pipe out of it, turn it inside out and insert the resulting arc into it.

Connecting the arcs and the base of the rug

Don't forget that arcs up must be connected together, for this you can:

sew two laces into one of the fabric tubes, with which you will then intercept both arcs;
cut a ribbon from the main fabric with which you will tie the arcs;
take any braid or finished tape.

After the base and arcs are ready, the main question remains, how to connect the two main elements together?

If you do not plan to assemble and disassemble the rug, you can sew the fabric that wraps the arcs to the corners of the rug. Your developmental mat on this will be ready and you can use it.

If you plan to make it more transportable, then at the stage of sewing the base, you should think about options for attaching arcs.

You can cut small pockets in the form of pipes with a diameter of a couple of centimeters larger than the arc, and sew them to the corners of the base of the rug.

Visually, the process of such a connection is shown by Olga Volkova in her master class:

You can cut through the base of the rug at the cutting stage, overcast the resulting loops and sew on the back of the Velcro. Attach the second part of it to the finished arc and insert it into the loop. This is exactly what Lyubov Lozinskaya suggests doing, sharing the tricks of creating a mobile and bright educational rug in her master class on creating a children's rug.

If you plan to use a developmental mat even after the baby learns to walk, then the arcs can be assembled separately from the playing field.

To do this, you just need to cut them to the desired length, wrap them with a padding polyester and sheathe them with a cloth, and then form an arc by pulling the ends of one pipe between each other with a tape. You get a solid frame of two arcs, on which you can lay any rug that fits in size.

Calculation of pipe length for arcs

To do this, simply multiply the diagonal of the rug by the number π, equal to 3.14, and then divide the resulting result in half.

For example, you want to assemble arcs from a pipe for a rug measuring 90x90 cm. They will be installed in the corners of the field, therefore, the base of our semicircle will be the starting point.

So, the diagonal of our rug will be 126 cm (90 cm x 1.4). Now we need to multiply the resulting number by 3.14 - 126cmx3.14 - to get the circumference of the proposed circle, which will be equal to 395.65 cm. But since this is the length of a full circle, we need to divide it in half - 395.65 cm / 2 = 197.82 cm. In total, we need two cuts of metal-plastic pipe with an approximate length of 198 cm. If the arc is too high, just shorten the length of the pipe until you get a satisfying result.

Please note that one pipe should be several centimeters longer than the other for greater structural stability.

Do-it-yourself rug with arcs and sides

Another distinguishing feature of developing mats for younger children is the presence of not only arcs, but also bumpers so that fidgets stay in place.

As we have already said, there are several types of such rugs:

with attached sides;
with sides that are part of a large rug.

Attached sides can be pillows, rollers or other soft limiters.

If you want the rug to become your assistant for a long time, then your choice is a rug with lifting sides. After all, it has two sizes - assembled and disassembled.

To sew such a rug, you first need to build the correct pattern. To do this, decide on the size of the original, small rug. Draw this square or rectangle on paper, and now add a rectangle on each side, the height of which will be the height of the wall. This is what your foundation will be.

In places where the sides will fold, you can sew on laces or ribbons. Then, to assemble the rug, it will be enough for you to tightly tie them together. If you prefer Velcro or buttons, then sew them along the entire height of the side.

More clearly, the process of creating such a rug can be seen in a small master class by a young mother.

Do-it-yourself themed or play rug

And yet, the most popular among developing mats for children are play mats. After all, they have so much interesting and fun!

The basis of such a rug can be sewn in different ways:

a solid canvas, to which applications and educational toys will be sewn afterwards;
separate sections that will be connected, eventually increasing the rug in size.

But in any case, you will need:

several large pieces of fabric;
synthetic winterizer or foam rubber as a sealant;
patches of bright fabric of different textures;
buttons, beads and other accessories;
locks, Velcro and elastic, etc.

First, decide on a sketch of your future rug:

consider the size of the finished product and whether you will sew it from flaps or from a single piece;
think over the location of the games and the logical transition between them;
come up with the plot of the rug.

It is very important that in everything that happens on the rug there is a meaning and a pattern. Do not try to place games with bees and hedgehogs in the middle of the sea - this will only confuse the child.

An excellent hint can be the choice of the type of rug. You can stitch:

In any case, you will need a base, sewn from two pieces of fabric and layered with filler, so that the rug is as safe as possible for playing.

After that, you can sew game elements to it in the order you need.

If you chose a terrain map as a plot - a forest, a freeway, or a park - then you can divide the field into heaven and earth. At the bottom, place trees, a road, small animals or houses, at the top you will have room for clouds, the sun, birds and planes.

Do not limit your imagination, you can always add a new object to the rug by simply sewing it on or swapping it with other places.

Use Velcro, buttons and zippers to connect toys. So an airplane can fly in the sky attached to a lightning slider, windows in a house can open and close with a button, and a hedgehog hiding under a bush can pick apples or berries that are attached to it with Velcro.

cute soft hedgehog

When creating educational mats for children with your own hands, be sure to pay attention to the variety of types of toys:

sew or tie noisy objects - pour buckwheat or beads into a chocolate egg capsule, tie or cover with a cloth, giving the toy the image of a bee, butterfly or rabbit;
use felt for flat applications that will move around the playing field and fasten with Velcro, buttons or buttons;
provide for the presence of pockets on zippers, in which there will be;
sew applications with a candy wrapper inside into separate sections of the rug, such rustling will not go unnoticed by the little fidget.

Mat toys collection

If you have not yet decided on the plot or are not confident in your abilities, then take a look at the video master class by Handmade Tailor. Here you will be inspired to create a simple play mat with different elements and principles for attaching toys.

If you doubt your sewing skills, then you can use the great idea of Svetlana Rost, who suggests creating an educational rug based on stool cushions. So you can increase or decrease the size of the playing field, swap games and tasks, or even temporarily remove those that your baby is already tired of.

Double-sided development mat

Practical parents prefer double-sided mats that contain two playing fields. So they will provide their baby with an occupation for a long time and save the family budget.

But when creating such developing rugs with your own hands, keep in mind that the baby will move along it and nothing should interfere with it. Therefore, you should avoid voluminous and hard objects that can cause unnecessary abrasions and bruises.

As with gaming mats, you first need to:

come up with a story;
draw a sketch and a map;
prepare materials.

After that, you sew all the game objects and Velcro onto the prepared playing fields and sew them together according to the principle of a stitch sandwich - fold the playing field, apply a synthetic winterizer to the wrong side and put the second playing field, inside out to the filler. Sew the resulting sandwich together, sew along the edge of the inlay.

For games on such a developmental rug, felt toys are most suitable, which can be rearranged, shifted or used for both sides.

Puzzle mat or puzzle mat

If your baby is already old enough and independent, then he will like the idea of \u200b\u200bassembling his own rug. The very process of folding will be an excellent game for him and a test of logic, spatial thinking, as well as the relationship of forms with each other. It is for this that puzzle mats or puzzle mats were invented.

Big puzzle for a little man

Most often, such rugs are made of PVC, i.e. at home, it will be difficult to repeat their production. But mother needlewomen found a way out and began to sew puzzle mats in the form of many soft pillows that can be easily connected to each other.

To create these do-it-yourself developing rugs, you will need:

fabric - felt, fleece or cotton is best;
filler;
pattern.

First, consider how many pillows you want to sew and what shape they will be. Draw the assembled puzzle and cut out each piece separately - this will be your pattern. Then just transfer it to the fabric - each detail should be cut out in two copies, which will then be sewn into pillows.

Stuff the pillows tightly with synthetic winterizer or any other filler, sew up the hole and you can give the finished rug to your child for playing. He himself will decide how to collect it and what to do with it next.

To add another element of the game and test the logic of the child, you can sew on the pillows an appliqué in the form of a labyrinth or a road, which will need to be connected in the correct order.

Eclerka and her detailed master class will help you understand the process of creating a puzzle rug in more detail, in which she shares the intricacies of cutting and sewing pillows.

As you can see, in order to give your child a full-fledged development and help him to know the world, it is not necessary to run to the store and buy everything from its shelves. Sometimes it is enough to show imagination and ingenuity, as well as to give him your love through the creation of a convenient, useful and interesting developmental rug. And what it will be and what it will teach your baby - it's up to you.

When such a small miracle as a child appears in the family, young parents begin to think about how to ensure the correct physical, emotional and mental development of the baby. Faced with such a task, difficult trips to children's stores begin in search of the right solution.

Nowadays, the modern industry for the production of didactic games, manuals and toys for children of different ages is not only at a high level, but continues to rapidly gain momentum. In particular, at the moment, such a universal product as educational mats for children is in great demand - they can be easily made on your own.

You can see one of the workshops on making a small round rug below.

Purpose

A children's rug is a kind of first didactic manual for kids and parents. When developing such a product, the main idea was to place all kinds of developing elements on a colorful and bright canvas of different sizes: fabrics of different textures and colors, musical details, rattles, rodents, etc.

The purpose of this attribute is to develop hearing, motor activity, cognitive sphere and sensorimotor skills of the crumbs. With the help of such mats, the child in the process of playing learns to reach for toys, crawl, sit, walk, distinguish colors and shapes.

It is important that the rug meets the following requirements:

The materials must be of high quality. This requirement applies not only to the fabric, but also to the components in order to avoid an allergic reaction in the baby.
Material integrity, i.e. no damage of any kind cracks, chips, poorly made seams, etc.
The build quality of the product must be high. Decorative elements and various accessories should not hang out, but should be firmly sewn and attached.
The versatility of the canvas. Since babies grow fast enough, there will be a need to improve this children's accessory. It is worth paying attention to whether it is possible, if necessary, to change and supplement the developing details and toys on the mat being purchased. For example, if such a developmental product is sewn for newborns, babies up to 3 months old and is planned to be used in the future, models with folding soft sides and strong hinged arches, to which various didactic material can be attached, would be an ideal choice. The presence of arcs and folding sides in this product makes it possible to modernize and increase the playing area.

Age features of the child. You should not sew a canvas full of musical and electronic elements for a baby, as well as make puzzle mats. Toddlers of this age are just beginning their acquaintance with the environment and are not able to think logically and establish cause-and-effect relationships.
Variety of accessories. The more noisy, rustling, ringing, sensorimotor, moving, interactive, mirror, luminous, etc. elements that are different in texture, color, size and shape - the faster and easier the child will become interested in the game. Such a canvas not only develops the baby, but also entertains him when the parents are busy and cannot pay attention to him for some time.
Mobility. The ability to easily fold and transport this product if desired.
All elements of a children's developmental rug should be easily removed and unfastened, especially musical and electronic ones. This must be taken into account, since the canvas will sometimes need to be washed.

The search for a product that meets all of the above requirements can lead parents to such a result, where the price of such a children's attribute will be quite high. A great way out of this situation is to make such a development center on your own.

DIY sewing process

Without a doubt, the benefits of such a product for the development of the baby are quite obvious and clear. Therefore, if the choice is made in favor of a self-made center, you should work a little, stock up on patience and imagination. And first you need to think and decide how the rug will look like and which option to choose for its manufacture, so that the result is an original attribute filled with parental love, care and warmth.

In order to avoid mistakes in the work of creating a canvas and not harm the baby, it is important to consider the following points:

Firstly, the presence of mirrors on the rug is unacceptable. This is dangerous not only because the mirror can break or part of it can break off, but it is also harmful to the baby’s eyesight, because the light reflected from the mirror surface is 100% polarized.

Items for fine motor skills of the fingers should not be monotonous. The child will quickly lose interest in this play activity. It is necessary to alternate textures that are different to the touch. This is also necessary in order to comprehensively develop the tactile sensations of the crumbs.
For the base of the canvas, you should not choose saturated plain fabrics with a glossy effect. The baby's eyes will quickly get tired and the passion for the game will disappear.
When decorating a product, it is important to take into account the level of development of the crumbs. Do not over-detail and complicate the composition. It is better to leave some free space for further making the desired changes.
Use in the manufacture of this children's attribute of fabrics of both cold and warm shades. Colors should be bright, but not flashy.
It is also important to consider what zones the canvas will be divided into. Pick up the decorated elements in such a way that they look appropriate and reflect the idea of what was conceived.

Choose a model

There are a lot of variations of children's educational canvases. Focusing on the model you like, it will be much easier to design your own, making it more perfect and individual.

Developing mini-platforms can be classified as follows.

By child's age

For newborns. The fabric is soft and bright. Mandatory presence of sides and arcs. The toys are arranged so that the baby can reach them. Additional elements are used in the form of soft laces, strips of fabric of different materials, rattling and rustling toys. Often these rugs are produced as "transformers". If desired, they are quite easy to fold, can transform into a toy bag or a cradle.
For babies from 6 months to 1 year. Most often these are rugs with musical paraphernalia. The baby at this time learns to sit, crawl and walk. There should be plenty of space for play activities. The child becomes more comfortable and more interesting to play on the floor. Based on this, the developing fabric is sewn with a foam rubber or synthetic winterizer insert. The bottom of such a product is oilcloth. This helps in cleaning it from possible contaminants.
For babies from 1 year old. For children of this age, the choice can be made in favor of a double-sided canvas. If there is a desire to change the field of activity for the game, you just need to turn the product over. A one-year-old child will also be interested in musical or electronic rugs, as the baby is rapidly developing his auditory skills and dance moves.
For children from 2 years old. At this time, the development of speech in the baby is gaining momentum. The subject - didactic environment of the playing field should stimulate the crumbs to activate vocabulary on topics: size, first colors, animals and the sounds they make. At this age, the formation of a plot-role-playing game falls. The choice of a developing attribute in the form of play houses and paths - labyrinths would be ideal;
For kids from 3 years old. At this age, children learn to establish cause and effect relationships. The main activity is a role-playing game. Toddlers learn to find new uses for familiar toys. Logic and thinking are actively developing. Very useful and interesting for children of this age are rugs - puzzles, complicated labyrinth paths.

With arcs and sides

Products of this model are quite common and in demand. The arcs, intersecting with each other, are quite simply detached from the rug. You can hang various game elements, musical details, etc. on them. Borders-limiters are sewn from soft fabric, sometimes they are made in the form of rollers.

For boys and girls

Such canvases may differ in color, shape, components. There are a huge number of ways to make such gender rugs. It all depends on the imagination and skills of the master who undertook to create such a product.

Boys mainly use shades of blue and light blue in the product and the image of road and construction equipment. Such "car mats" will help the child to get acquainted with the rules of the road. As an idea for decorating a canvas for young motorists, you can make a traffic light in which you need to choose the right colors and attach them with Velcro or rivets. Home-made cars that can squeak or strum because of the small parts placed in them will also look worthy.

In decorating rugs for girls, red and pink colors are taken as the basis, dolls, flowers, hearts, etc. are depicted. Canvases with a focus on household work will seem interesting and relevant for young ladies: it is appropriate to use various deep pockets, liners, inserts, applications in the form of stoves, cabinets, in which small fabric saucepans and doll dresses can be placed with Velcro tape or rivets.

In the form of puzzles

The most common canvases of this type are products made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as it is impact resistant, not rigid, long-lasting and heat-retaining. Thanks to the listed qualities of such raw materials, you can be sure that the child playing on the floor will be warm and comfortable.

There are also textile puzzle mats that mothers are happy to make on their own.

Stages of work

Having decided on the model of a children's developmental rug, you can proceed directly to its manufacture. It will be much more convenient to work, based on the drawn up action plan.

The first stage is preparatory. At this stage we need:

Make a drawing of the playing canvas, taking into account all the decorative additional elements and developmental details.
Pick up fabric. When choosing a fabric, it is important to consider its hypoallergenicity. This quality is possessed by: cotton, coarse calico, denim, bike, satin, felt. If the project has a knitted decorative element, it is necessary to choose cotton yarn, as it is not only pleasant to the touch, but also does not irritate the delicate skin of the child. Do not forget about foam rubber or synthetic winterizer, which will allow the baby to play on a warm and soft canvas.
Prepare all the necessary tools and accessories: scissors, needles, threads, applications, candy wrappers, buttons, ribbons, zippers, adhesive tape, laces, beads, etc.

The second stage is working with the fabric.

The play mat consists of two main parts - the wrong side and the front side. Having decided on the fabric, shape and size of the product, we begin to make a pattern for the bottom and top of the canvas, not forgetting about the indents for the seams. Next, you should carefully overcast the edges, making sure that there are no protruding threads.

The third stage is work with decorative trim.

We sew the selected fabric applications onto the upper fabric, which is the basis of the rug. We do the same actions with prepared fittings, rustling and sound parts, toys. When working with canvas decoration, it is especially important to ensure that the attached elements are firmly attached.

The fourth stage is the completion of the work.

At this stage, parts of the canvas are sewn from the wrong side - the base and the bottom. But in order for the rug to be soft, it is necessary to put foam rubber or synthetic winterizer between the fabrics (if it is very thin, then two layers will be needed).

Master class on making a rug

Consider step by step how to make a developing mat with arcs for a newborn.

The manufacturing process can be seen on the video:

Step one. Preparation of the necessary tools and material.

Attention! The fabric for the canvas must be selected as high as possible, for example, cotton. This material is quite durable and completely natural. It is better to use fabrics of different tones to create a product - cold and warm shades.

about 1 meter of plain bright fabric on the bottom and arcs;
8 pieces of fabric with polka dots, flowers, stripes, checks or any other pattern;
cotton braid, satin ribbons or strips of fabric (optional);
gymnastic plastic hoop, the diameter of the arc of which will be approximately 65 cm;
paper pattern in the shape of a square with sides 45 cm long;

Attention! The sides of the square paper pattern will change depending on the diameter of the selected hoop. If the arc is longer, accordingly, the size of the product will be larger.

scissors, needle, thread, stationery knife, pins;
synthetic winterizer: 2 meters for arcs and 1 meter for the base of the canvas.

Step two. Material pattern.

Sewing a do-it-yourself developmental rug can be a very pleasant and exciting activity for a mother during pregnancy or in the first months after the birth of a baby.

Of course, you can just buy a rug, but by making it yourself, you not only save money, but also invest your soul in the development of your baby.

It can be quite simple, but containing different elements for understanding the world around you, or you will put a lot of effort and imagination into its creation - it all depends on your desire.

In this article, we have collected the basic principles for creating elements of a developmental rug and ideas for using improvised means for the development of a child.

As a rule, such a rug is used for babies from 1-2 months. The child is laid out there on the back (if the rug is with arcs) or on the tummy. The main requirement for the rug is that it should be warm and cozy and have a lot of diversified elements that the baby can touch, kick, catch, push, send into the mouth.

Woven material and elements should be varied to the touch - smooth, rough, furry, fleecy, cold, with pimples, etc.

General idea and materials

Start with a general idea- colors, mood. Will the whole story be depicted on the rug, or will various phenomena (elements, seasons) be presented, or will it simply be sewn from squares or triangles of different fabrics. Draw a sketch.

Colors should not be very flashy, but not too pale. A small child can only distinguish contrasting colors well, so sewing the entire rug in different shades of pink is a bad idea. And fabrics and various elements should not pose a danger to the baby.

Think about what you have- trimmings of fabrics, buttons, ribbons, fringe, braid, zippers, Velcro, appliqués, images of animals on fabric, something instead of an arc. Everything can become elements of a developing rug, the main thing is to sew it securely.

And do not forget that the rug will need to be washed, so fabrics and all elements must withstand washing, or be attached in such a way that they can be removed before washing.

To sew a developing rug with your own hands, we suggest taking an old blanket or synthetic winterizer as a basis so that the baby is warm and soft. The blanket can be square 1x1 m or 1.5x1.5 m, or any other shape and size.

You will sew a blanket with the main material with already sewn elements in the form of some kind of pattern, or sew the outer surface of the rug using the patchwork technique from pieces of fabric of various textures and colors.

Arcs for a development mat can be made from a hoop, which is cut to length depending on the size of the mat. How to attach them is clearly shown in the video at the end of the article. The arcs are sheathed with fabric, then you can hang toys on them - store-bought or home-made (for example,).

There is another option than replacing the arcs for the rug:

Design theme and elements of the developmental rug

The design of the rug can be dedicated to the theme of animals, flowers, fruits, fairy tales. It can be some kind of plot or a town with houses, cars, a river and trees. Try dividing the playing surface of the rug into sectors dedicated to the seasons, time of day or the elements - water, earth, air, etc.

If you just sew a rug from different fabrics, then take a variety of colors and textures, polka dot prints and stripes. Fabrics with drawings are also served, you can choose a suitable plot and sew everything from one fabric, the main thing is that it washes well.

Sew rustling polyethylene or candy wrappers into some game elements. Use satin, tulle, faux fur to develop baby's sensory skills.

Let some elements be convex and soft, fill them with padding polyester or holofiber. Sew different buttons firmly, you can make a pattern out of them, use buttons of various shapes.

Rain or the rays of the sun can be depicted with a fringe, sew on multi-colored ribbons in the form of a rainbow. Somewhere you can sew on lacing and a zipper so that the child trains his fine motor skills and learns to use them when he grows up.

Let some elements of the rug be fastened with Velcro - for example, this is how the doors in the house can be opened and closed. Hide some surprises in the pockets, the baby will be interested in how they hide and are found again. Sew some toys with elastic bands into the pocket.

come up with sound effects. In addition to rustling candy wrappers sewn into the elements of the rug, you can hang a bell or musical toys on the arcs. From old toys, try removing the music block and sewing it into the rug.

And now a video that will clearly show how, from a technical point of view, to perform the developmental rug with arcs with your own hands, how to make and attach toys:

And also read:

Modern parents begin to engage in the development of the child literally from the first days of his life. Pediatricians and psychologists recommend paying special attention to fine motor skills, as it is directly related to the formation of speech. Toy manufacturers have long picked up this idea and brought it to life, releasing numerous educational toys. But many of them can be made by hand.

Why you need to develop fine motor skills

Many people know about the need to develop fine motor skills in children from an early age. However, not everyone understands why this is necessary and what such classes are.

Fine motor skills is the ability to perform precise actions with the hands and fingers. It is coordinated by the work of the nervous, muscular, bone and visual systems. Its development begins in the first months of a child's life with looking at his own fingers and pens. Then the baby gradually learns to master them by taking toys. Motor skills have a positive effect on manual dexterity, the formation of a student's future handwriting, and reaction speed.

It has been established that the level of development of a child's speech directly depends on the degree of formation of finger movements. In the human brain, the centers responsible for speech and motor skills are located side by side. Thus, when one area is stimulated, the other is also activated.

DIY toys for the development of fine motor skills in children

Shelves of children's stores offer a wide range of educational aids. It's no secret that their cost is quite high. It will not be difficult for interested mothers to make toys for fine motor skills with their own hands. And the main thing will be uniqueness - after all, they will be executed with great tenderness.

sensory pouches

Sewing sensory pouches with your own hands is not difficult at all. You will need a dense fabric of different colors and textures and a filler, which can be used as:

pasta (spirals, shells, bows, tubes);
cereals (millet, buckwheat, barley, rice, oats);
flour and starch;
legumes (beans, peas, soybeans, beans, corn);
sweets;
nuts;
natural materials (acorns, chestnuts, shells, pebbles);
erasers of various shapes;
cotton wool or synthetic winterizer;
buttons and beads.

Safety regulations

Natural materials must be washed and dried thoroughly before use, and toys with food products must be stored in a dry place - pasta and cereals are afraid of moisture. The bags must be sewn or tied in such a way that the baby cannot, under any circumstances, get their contents.

Video: how to make do-it-yourself sensory pads

Photo gallery: homemade sensory pouches

These bags are easy to make yourself even without a sewing machine. The filler can be put not only in the fabric: dense balloons are suitable for this Tactile perception can be developed not only with the help of filler, but also using fabrics of different textures Bags can be of different colors and sizes.

sensory cube

Such a toy is a cube, on the sides of which there are three-dimensional objects of different shapes and shades or applications made of various materials.

How to make a cube for the development of fine motor skills

In order to make a sensory cube with your own hands, you will need:

small pieces of fabric of different textures and colors;
synthetic winterizer or foam rubber as a filler;
interlining;
decorative elements (buttons, ribbons, ropes, rings, fabric remnants, thermal stickers);
threads;
iron;
sewing machine.

From shreds of fabric (it can be cotton, silk, velvet and others), you need to cut 6 squares with the same size edges.

From interlining, you need to cut out squares with a side 1–1.5 cm smaller than from fabric. Non-woven blanks are superimposed on fabric blanks and ironed - both parts will stick together, get a rigid structure and keep their shape well.

Each square is designed in accordance with the idea: it can be figures of animals and birds, geometric shapes made of fur or felt, thermal stickers, buttons, locks and much more.

When the design is completed, you need to sew 4 squares in one strip.

The two remaining blanks are sewn to one of the squares above and below.

The seams are made along the contour of the non-woven edges, after which they are fixed. Further, the development is sewn together in such a way that a cube is obtained.

On the last edge in the corner, you need to leave a small hole and carefully turn the cube through it. The toy is filled with foam rubber or synthetic winterizer and stitched with a hidden seam. Together with the filler, rustling paper or a bell can also be placed in the cube.

Video: how to make a developing cube with your own hands

Tactile cushion

Sensory (tactile) pillows are suitable for babies from 2-3 months to 3 years. It all depends on the set of those elements that are placed on it. For the little ones, a small amount of simple materials is suitable. Before giving such a toy to a child, you need to make sure that all the elements are firmly fixed: if the baby pulls one of them into his mouth, he should not come off.

For children from 1 year old, you can pick up and sew on more diverse and complex educational items: zippers, buttons, lacing, Velcro, bows and ropes that can be tied and pulled. You can make such a toy using a ready-made pillow and sewing a pillowcase with decorative elements for it.

Photo gallery: sensory pillows of different shapes

This pillow is suitable for babies from 2-3 months. For the image on each of the squares, you can use a fabric of a different texture This pillow is suitable for children from 1 year old. It presents more complex elements: buttons, ribbons, bows, Velcro, lock Such a turtle has several faces, each of which has different developmental elements: a carabiner, lacing, buttons. It is suitable for children from two years old.

Do-it-yourself pillow for the development of fine motor skills

You can sew such a pillow at home.

For its manufacture you will need:

fabric - green (53 × 30 cm) and blue (83 × 20 cm);
interlining (53 × 50 cm);
fabric for the back side (50 × 55 cm);
felt of different colors and floss threads to match;
zipper 50 cm long;
Velcro, buttons, braid, ribbons, hat elastic;
drawing paper, paper, pencil;
scissors;
threads, needles and pins for sewing;
pillow 45×50 cm.

Before you start sewing, you need to make a full-size sketch of the future pillow. You can use stencils for this.

The blue fabric is cut into two strips (the first is 30 × 20 cm for the pocket, the second is 53 × 20 cm for the base). A piece of green fabric and a blue flap prepared for the base are duplicated in size by interlining. The cutout for the pocket folds in half.

The sun is connected from yellow felt and ribbons: a circle with a diameter of 10 cm and 7-8 strips of 10 cm in length each.

A felt sun with beams folded in half is attached with pins to a blue fabric prepared for a pocket.

Details are sewn on a sewing machine or by hand with small, neat stitches.

The elements of the main part (blue and green) and the pocket are connected together.

The basis of green fabric is located below, of blue - on top. A pocket with the sun is applied to the upper left corner

Then the base and non-woven substrates are connected with pins, after which they are sewn together.

Elements from the drawn sketch are cut out of felt.

"Felt waves" are interconnected. For each fish you need two parts (you can use different colors) and an elastic band 10–15 cm long

Elastic bands with knots tied at the ends are placed between the elements of the fish and sewn together. The waves are laid out on the base (departing from the edges 1–1.5 cm for seam allowances).

Multi-colored fish are placed between the waves and fixed. Elements of the river are sewn first at the bottom, then around the entire perimeter.

The next element is a tree. For each of them, you need two crown blanks, one trunk and several apples or pears. The parts are sewn together, while the fruit is located inside between the two crowns, and the trunk remains on top.

The blank for the railway is made of gray felt. Its size is 53x5 cm.

The railroad is placed on a green clearing that already has a river and trees.

For the manufacture of a steam locomotive and a trailer, you will also need two elements each. Facial details are made using felt of different colors (wheels, windows, pipe). Details are sewn on top. A small button is attached to the rear edge of the train, and a small ribbon loop is attached to the trailer. A ribbon 50 cm long is threaded through the unsewn edge, at the ends of which knots are tied. The structure is located on the railway and fixed.

Clouds are made from blue felt - also two elements each. Through them, as through a train, a braid is passed, the ends of which are sewn to the blue part of the base.

Flowers are cut out of felt of different colors, for the middle of which Velcro is used, and placed on a green meadow next to the river. The seam is made along the edge of the Velcro, and the petals remain free.

Following the example of fish, a butterfly and a bee are made. Velcro is sewn on the reverse side of each figurine - so insects can sit on flowers.

A lock is sewn into the middle of the piece of fabric that was chosen for the back of the pillowcase.

The front and back of the pillowcase are folded right sides in and sewn around the perimeter, leaving a seam allowance (1-1.5 cm on each side).

If desired, you can make figurines of animals that will ride on the train. Their faces can be drawn with a marker.

The pillowcase is ready. The kid can play with her, placing the animals in the trailer, rolling the train along the rails, planting insects on flowers, looking for fruits on the trees.

Testoplasty

Effectively promotes the development of the motor ability of the fingers modeling. Plasticine, which all parents have known since childhood, is dangerous to give to a one-year-old baby, because he tastes everything. The usual dough comes to the rescue. It can be prepared independently from safe ingredients.

Modeling dough recipe

For it, you will need finely ground salt and water (one part each), flour (2 parts).

Combine salt and flour in a deep bowl, add water.
Mix well.
Knead the mass to the consistency of soft plasticine.

If after cooking the dough sticks to your hands, you can add salt and flour to it (observing the proportion). In case of getting a crumbly texture, it is enough to increase the amount of water.
If the baby loves to sculpt, you can immediately make a lot of dough. You need to store it in the refrigerator, pinching off the “working” pieces as needed. But such material should not be stored for a long time - over time, the dough loses its elasticity. For older children, you can add food coloring during cooking. After drying, the figures from the dough become hard and durable. They can be colored and used for games.

Photo gallery: do-it-yourself dough figures

You can make such a basket together with your baby - this is an exciting, creative and useful activity.
From the dough you can mold figures of your child's favorite animals Dried crafts can be painted with acrylic paints From the figures you can make whole pictures and use them to decorate a children's room

Collapsible elements

Very well develops motor skills game with small details.

felt coats

All large details on such samples (pockets, sleeves and even a collar) are removable. The child himself will be able to create interesting models by combining colors. These toys are suitable for kids from two years old.

Math strings

When the baby begins to show interest in numbers, you can offer him mathematical strings. They not only develop fine motor skills well, but also help to learn counting.

Video: didactic games with furs

Lacing

Such devices are great for improving the motor activity of fingers and pens. After all, a multi-colored rope must not only be taken - it must fall into a small hole.

Simple lacing can be made from any safe surface: a wooden plank, a plastic cover, or ordinary thick cardboard. On them, using a screwdriver heated on a candle or an awl, you need to randomly make holes with a diameter of 5 mm.

An even easier way to keep your child busy with lacing is to use a colander.

More complex laces can be made in any shape. This will take a little more time, imagination and material.

Sorters

Sorters, in addition to fine motor skills, allow you to develop perseverance, attentiveness and quick wit in your baby. Making them yourself is also possible, although a little more difficult than lacing or math shoelaces.

For the sorter, you will need a cardboard box and several small toys of various shapes. On one side of the box, you need to cut holes that match the shapes of the selected items, only a little larger.

Photo gallery: do-it-yourself sorters

Round holes are cut slightly larger than plastic caps.
Such an original large sorter is suitable for babies who already know how to walk. For the simplest version of a homemade sorter, you will need a box and cardboard blanks