Presentation

  1. 1

    Invite the child and bring the basket to a table.

  2. 2

    Take out the cloth with one stitched line and lay it flat. Smooth it with both palms.

  3. 3

    Point to the stitched line with your finger.

  4. 4

    Pick up the two bottom corners with your thumbs and fingers and lift them slowly over to the top corners.

  5. 5

    Match each corner exactly. Pause and point to the matched corners; this is the point of interest.

  6. 6

    Run your palm along the fold to crease it.

  7. 7

    Unfold the cloth, lay it flat, and invite the child to try.

  8. 8

    Show the next cloth (two folds) only after the first is mastered. Return folded cloths to the basket.

Extensions, easiest to hardest

  1. Fold in half twice (quarters) using the two-line cloth
  2. Fold on the diagonal to make a triangle
  3. Fold cloths without stitched lines
  4. Fold napkins, washcloths, and aprons from the laundry basket and put them away

Control of error

The stitched line and the corners: if the corners do not meet, the stitched line is not on the fold.

Ready to move on when the child…

  • Folds along a stitched line with corners meeting
  • Folds in quarters and on the diagonal
  • Folds classroom napkins and cloths neatly without lines

Try “pink tower”, “tummy”, “diaper”, “grace and courtesy”, or “October”.