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One of the greatest skills that our preschoolers are trying to develop are their fine motor skills. Developing these skills early and providing your child lots of opportunities in a variety of ways will help them not only as they progress through school but also as adults. Here are a few fine motor activities that you can do with your child at home. We will be adding more activities or resources weekly so be sure to check back.
One of the greatest skills that our preschoolers are trying to develop are their fine motor skills. Developing these skills early and providing your child lots of opportunities in a variety of ways will help them not only as they progress through school but also as adults. Here are a few fine motor activities that you can do with your child at home. We will be adding more activities or resources weekly so be sure to check back.
Play Dough and Buttons
Play Dough and Buttons
My kids really enjoy adding these large collage buttons to play dough. They like to hide the buttons in the play dough and then dig them back out. This process is awesome for strengthening hand muscles!
My kids really enjoy adding these large collage buttons to play dough. They like to hide the buttons in the play dough and then dig them back out. This process is awesome for strengthening hand muscles!
Spider Web Game
Spider Web Game
One of our all-time favorite fine motor activities (and the most popular one on this website) is this spider web fine motor activity! Just grab a small basket, weave some yarn through to make a “web” and add some spider rings to the bottom. Then give children tweezers or clothespins and let them get the spiders out of the web. Use more or less yarn depending on the abilities of your students/kids. The more yarn you weave around the basket, the more challenging the activity will be. My 6-year-old son still loves doing this activity! So, if your kids are older and still need fine motor practice, I highly recommend this game.
One of our all-time favorite fine motor activities (and the most popular one on this website) is this spider web fine motor activity! Just grab a small basket, weave some yarn through to make a “web” and add some spider rings to the bottom. Then give children tweezers or clothespins and let them get the spiders out of the web. Use more or less yarn depending on the abilities of your students/kids. The more yarn you weave around the basket, the more challenging the activity will be. My 6-year-old son still loves doing this activity! So, if your kids are older and still need fine motor practice, I highly recommend this game.
Pom Poms and an Ice Cube Tray
Pom Poms and an Ice Cube Tray
My preschooler does this activity over and over again! Simply put a bunch of craft pom poms on the table with an ice cube tray. Then add some fine motor tools like tweezers or clothespins. Children will use the fine motor tools to pick up the pom poms and place them in the tray. This is easily one of our favorite fine motor activities for preschoolers!
My preschooler does this activity over and over again! Simply put a bunch of craft pom poms on the table with an ice cube tray. Then add some fine motor tools like tweezers or clothespins. Children will use the fine motor tools to pick up the pom poms and place them in the tray. This is easily one of our favorite fine motor activities for preschoolers!
Paper Clip Slip
Gather your supplies: paper clips, paint chips, bowl (optional), timer.
How paper clips can you clip onto the paint chip in one minute?
Set a handful of paper clips on the table (you can put them in a bowl If that is easier).Set a timer for 1 minute and see how many paper clips your child can slip onto the paint chip.
Alternative items: If you don't have paint chips you can use card stock or Index cards. Use a sturdier type of paper for this activity so that the paper doesn't bend when your child slips the paper clips on.You can also use larger paper clips if the smaller ones are harder for your child to slip on.
This Is a challenging fine motor activity, so It may not be appropriate for younger children. My 4 year old struggled with this, but my 7 year old was able to do It after I gave her some visual prompts for how to do it.
This activity works on pincer grasp, grasp strength, as well as visual motor skills.
Egg Transfer Drop
Gather your supplies: two bowls or baskets, plastic eggs, spoons, timer.
How eggs can you transfer and drop in one minute?
Place your plastic eggs into a basket or container and set out your spoons. Set another container on the opposite side of the room or table. Set the timer for 1 minute.
Have the children pick up a spoon and use it to scoop the egg onto their spoon.They can use the other hand to balance the egg initially, but must put It behind their back or on their side while carrying the egg. See how many eggs they can transfer between baskets or containers in one minute.
Alternative items: If you don't have the plastic eggs you could substitute with large coins like quarters, cotton balls, or pom-poms.
This activity works on visual-motor skills as well as every-day life skills of holding the spoon and using It to scoop an item onto it.
Block Stacking
Gather your supplies: wooden blocks, timer.
How many wood blocks can you stack 4 high in 1 minute.
Gather your large container or basket of wooden blocks. Since we had different shaped blocks, I got out 4 blocks of each shape so they didn't have to go searching for the right shape of block.
Set the timer for 1 minute and see how many towers, 4 blocks high, they can stack.
Alternative items: If you don't have wooden blocks, plastic ones could work. Just expect that those may knock over easier. If you don't have blocks you could substitute with large or small building bricks.
This activity works on pincer grasp, grasp strength, visual motor skills, and gross motor skills (grading movement and strength so they don't knock over the towers).
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