Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Here is a collection of 40 fine motor skills activities for young children that are easy to set up and promote a whole range of skills. They’re creative, open-ended, appropriate and varied with ideas for practising motor skills through art, sensory play and simple manipulative games, and there are so many to choose from!

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

One of the most important ways we can help our children while playing with them at home or in a childcare/ 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.

There are plenty of easy ways to strengthen these muscles, practise co-ordination and develop hand:eye co-ordination using simple, everyday materials and a bit of creative fun! Here are 40 that we have done over the past few years with babies to 5 year olds. There are a million variations you could make from each of these to cater for your own child’s particular interests and learning dispositions. Use these as a springboard and pin it for future reference too!

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

[Herbal play dough with natural materials to explore]

My personal favourite tool for developing all fine motor skills is the humble ball of homemade play dough. It can be used in SO many ways by adding other combinations of materials to it, and automatically strengthens little hands as they roll, squeeze, twist and build with it. Here is a whole post about the benefits of playing with play dough and a handy guide to starting out with building your own play dough tool kit. Of course, baking with real dough is another wonderful way to play and learn simultaneously!

The many benefits of play dough (and a tool kit) 

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Other activities we have loved have included exploring sensory play materials, transporting small parts, threading beads, hands-on art projects, cutting and sticking, tearing and scrunching papers, opening and closing fastenings and countless others. Here is a selection of some of those favourites, all of which can be adapted for different age groups and abilities.

Threading with beads onto pipe cleaners

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Threading, posting and slotting toys for babies and toddlers

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Poking straws into holes

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Pasta necklaces

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Monster play dough

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Weaving around cardboard

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Fairy sparkle playdough

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Pipe cleaners and colanders

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Beads on spaghetti

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Hair rollers sticky construction

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

First sewing basket

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Edible fingerpainting 

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Making marks in fairy dust

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Decorating play dough eggs

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Mark making and scooping in lavender sensory salt

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Building 3D models

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Sorting and pattern making with shells

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Patterning with lego

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Lid posting game

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Snipping and doodling sticky stained glass windows

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Whisking up coloured sensory soap 

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Salt dough alphabet modelling

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Pebble sorting

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Stacking cups

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Play dough cupcakes

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Foam and water window art

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Which activity is most appropriate for developing fine motor skills in the school

Cakie: 5.0

Pop: 3.5

Bean: 18 mos

What activities are good for developing fine motor skills?

Fine Motor Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers.
Peeling and Placing Stickers. Place stickers on your child's hands or clothing and have them peel them off. ... .
Stringing Cheerios. ... .
Ripping or Crumpling Paper. ... .
Placing Coins in a Piggy Bank. ... .
Squeezing Clothespins or Chip Clips..

Which is the best example of an activity used to develop fine motor skills in a group of 3 year olds?

For toddlers, activities that might improve fine motor skills include encouraging them to pick up objects with tongs, building with blocks, and doing craft projects. You can also encourage toddlers and preschoolers to play with play-dough, sponges, pasta, or water toys.

Which is an example of a fine motor skills that a preschool can perform?

Fine Motor Skills Examples Turning the pages of a book. Cutting, pasting and folding. Eating. Building with blocks and playing with small objects.