Paper Crumple

The paper crumple task can be done by older or younger students. For smaller hands, use thinner paper (old phone book) or a 1/4 sheet of scratch paper. The emphasis here is to squeeze the paper into a round ball using only one hand and rotating the paper with fingers only. Finish this 5-10 minute task off by setting up a recycle can nearby and shoot the paper balls into the basket. Try this 3 times this week.

Squirt Bottle

Spraying water with a spray bottle helps strengthen the muscles that are in the hand. Pressing and releasing a spray bottle is much like the manipulation of scissors. Spray bottles can therefore help children build scissor skills too.

· Fill a spray bottle with water. Walk around the yard and use the spray bottle to water flowers, plants, and trees.

· Outside, use chalk to draw on asphalt or sidewalk. Hand children spray bottles filled with water. They can simply spray water on their drawings to see them disappear.

· Fill a spray bottle with water and squirt water at a target. The target can be in front of them or toys in a container of water (see picture above).

Pyramid Targets

Set 6 plastic cups upside down to form a pyramid (3 cups on the bottom, 2 on the next level and 1 on the top) on a table. Try to knock down the pyramid with water from the spray bottle.

Variation: Set up larger pyramids using 10 cups, 15 cups or 21 cups.

Pencil Races

In hand manipulation is the ability to move and position objects within the hand without using the other hand. It is the most complex fine motor skill. Three types of skills are important components of in-hand manipulation: translation, shift, and rotation. Shift involves moving objects between the fingers. Some examples of shift are when you use your fingertips to try and separate two pieces of paper that are stuck together or when you move your fingers to the bottom of a pencil to get ready to write.

Pencil races: hold the pencil in the fingertips ready for writing. Using index, middle finger, and thumb, “walk” fingers up and down the base of the pencil as fast as possible without dropping the pencil.

Let’s stick with the idea of helpful hands around the house! Another way to build fine motor skills in a natural and purposeful way is to let your kids help in the kitchen. Yes, it might be messy and take a bit longer, but the joy on your child’s face when they made something like cookies will be worth it! There are so many skills in baking! Planning out and following a recipe (sequencing), measuring (fine motor precision and math), stirring (bilateral coordination and hand strength), kneading dough with your hands (hand strength), rolling out dough (bilateral coordination), cutting out shapes (spatial orientation) and using a spatula to remove cookies from cookie sheet (upper-limb coordination). And if you have made something like sugar cookies…. frosting and decorating (fine motor precision and visual motor skills) is typically the favorite part (outside of eating them!).

Obviously, food preparation and cooking requires adult supervision! Safety always comes first! If your child is on the younger side, then you can choose the part of the tasks that are most appropriate for them. For example, the adult measures and the youngster pours, the adult helps hold the bowl while the child stirs or the adult removes the cookies from the oven, waits until the tray has cooled off and the child uses the spatula to scoop from the cookie sheet.

Don’t forget to have them help you clean up. Let them rinse the dishes and load the dishwasher, wipe the counter down or dry the hand washed items. Younger kids can work on sorting by putting away utensils. Be creative and have fun. Cookie with your kids can be a great experience for everyone!

Finger and hand strength is essential and needed for children to perform daily activities such as climbing play structures, zipping or buttoning up their clothes, cutting up their food, and handwriting. Fine motor activities require finger dexterity and isolated movements of the fingers.

During this activity, ensure your child is using their fingers to make walking movements and not making grabbing movements with their hands. The type and size of the ball can be switched up and you can even have your child use their index finger and thumb to walk the ball.

Ask your child to walk the ball up and down their leg with the fingers and thumb. Walking the ball down actually takes more control! You can also ask your child to walk the ball up one leg, across their stomach, and down the other leg. A larger ball will get more fingers involved, but smaller balls can upgrade the activity to have just one or two fingers and the thumb do the walking. When using a smaller ball, keep the other fingers out of the way by holding an object (such a paper or a cotton ball) under those fingers.

Practice cutting skills by repurposing your old rolls into a new crafty critter. You will need old toilet paper or paper towel rolls, appropriate size scissors for your child’s age and skill level, crayons or markers, stickers, feathers or other decorative items. You can color or paint part of your roll before you cut it. Cut small strips into one of end of the roll about 1 -2 inches and fold them over to be hair or legs/arms.Decorate your critter with eyes, mouth, nose and any other creative feature you may like.

For children who struggle with scissors and safety awareness, make sure to use safety scissors and supervise them during this activity. If they have weaker hands, they may need assistance with cutting the thicker material. A child may need to have the cut started and allow them to finish. Create a village of people or critters with different size rolls and decor.