Children with fine motor difficulties may struggle with handwriting and basic self care tasks at school. Fine motor activities help students develop hand strength and coordination which will have a positive impact on a student's success. Don't underestimate the value of hands on and messy play and activities in your classroom!
Activities that promote hand strengthening, bilateral coordination and fine motor skills:
Lacing
Use small pencils and break crayons to be very small – 1 to 2″ in length.
Paper-Tearing, crumpling (one-handed), folding
Sidewalk Chalk/ chalk board
Hanging on arms and hands as in monkey bars
Wring out washcloth or sponges (make game to fill bowl, clean desks…)
Cooking activities including stirring, pouring, spooning, scraping
Practice cutting soft foods and spreading condiments or icing
Games: Magna Doodle, Lite Bright, Mr. potato Head, Bed Bugs, Color Forms
Tug of war
Squirt bottles
Legos
Playdoh, Clay, Silly Putty
Rubber stamps
Pop Beads
Pop Bubble Wrap
String beads/pasta
Opening and closing small containers
Tweezer Activities-pick up cotton balls or other objects
Sticker books
Clothes pin activities
Peg boards
Office tool use - stapler, hole punch, tape dispenser, scissors, fold paper
Spin top or Jacks
Sand toys - digging , building, carrying buckets of water or sand
Wind up toys
More Fine Motor and Letter Practice Ideas - handout for home