Fine Motor

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One of the most important ways we can help our children while playing with them at home or in a classroom setting is through setting up simple activities that help to develop fine motor skills. Young children need to be able to hold and use scissors and pencils appropriately before using them in a classroom context. We cannot expect them to be able to write if they haven’t yet developed the strength needed in their hands and fingers.


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The most efficient way to hold a pencil is the dynamic tripod grasp where the pencil is positioned between the thumb and index finger with the pencil resting on the middle finger. Another functional grasp is the quadropod grasp where four fingers stabilize the writing implement and the pinky is curled in towards the palm. In both of these grasps, there should also be an open web space (thumb and index finger form a circle) that allows for small movements in the child’s hand.



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Fine motor activities like playing with play dough builds many fine motor skill areas:

A tub of play dough has so many options for building fine motor strength and dexterity.

Roll balls of dough between the thumb and pointer/middle fingers.

Make a rainbow with rolls of different colors of play dough.

Make snakes and cut with scissors

Roll a long rope of play dough and roll it into a cinnamon bun

Hide beads and have a race to find them

Create an obstacle course for the fingers with hurdles and jumps

Spread the play dough out into a pizza. Use scissors to cut it into slices

Make a small world with hills and mountains for small animal figures

Make a maze for a ping pong ball. Blow the ball through the maze with a straw

Make a small keyboard using balls of dough. Press on the play dough balls with one finger

Make a play dough pie. Pinch the crust, create play dough berries.

Form letters using the play dough

Mix water into the play dough for a squishy, messy dough

Build structures using popsicle sticks and play dough. Add details with feathers scraps of paper, etc

Make play dough emoji faces

Roll play dough into a sheet. Cut it with scissors

Cut with cookie cutters

Press google eyes into play dough

Press buttons into play dough

Push pegs into play dough

Press straws into play dough to make circles

Press kitchen utensils into play dough

Press feathers into play dough

Nature sculptures- add leaves, pine cones, acorns, etc.

Make play dough muffins with muffin tin

Press rocks into play dough

Use candles or pipe cleaners and craft sticks to create play dough birthday cakes


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Using salad tongs to pick up small items helps to strengthen fine motor control.

Use chop sticks to pick up

pom-poms.

Other ideas:

holding a pencil

maneuvering a pencil

using scissor

pushing Lego blocks together (and pulling them apart)

getting dressed with belts, buttons, zippers and snaps

using silverware while eating

opening and closing latches

technology/mouse manipulation

playing cards

stacking small blocks

stacking coins

collecting, sorting and comparing rocks