15 Fine Motor Skills Activities for Preschoolers
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What are Fine Motor Skills?
Let’s talk about fine motor skills and why they are important.
Fine motor skills activities are any action that involves strengthening the small, finer muscles in your child’s fingers. This is done in many ways every day that you are completely unaware of. In preschool, however, we do certain activities to further strengthen these muscles. Any time your child is grasping an object, or using the pinching motion with a toy or object, that is helping their fine motor skills. These skills are developed over time, so don’t be alarmed if it seems like they are not progressing in this area. Much of this has to do with attention span with toddlers and preschoolers. Many fine motor activities for preschoolers involve sitting for a little while, and our little ones just don’t have much patience for that yet (as I’m sure you’re aware of).
Practicing fine motor skills for preschoolers helps the children get ready to hold a pencil, tie their shoes, and do many other activities as they grow and mature.
Preschool and Toddler Fine Motor Skills Development
Your child is practicing these skills already while playing, eating, and doing any school related projects. But sometimes, as a preschool teacher, we want to help further strengthen those muscles as our preschoolers get closer to the writing stage.
It’s important that your toddlers and preschoolers strengthen the muscles in their fingers and hands for several reasons.
First, these skills allow your child to do everyday tasks like buttoning up their shirt, tying their shoes, or zipping up their jacket. The stronger those little muscles are in their fingers and hands, the easier of a time they’ll have with these tasks.
Next, fine motor skill practice helps your preschooler get ready for holding a pencil. It’s what we call “pre-writing” practice. By doing skills that strengthen the fine motor muscles, your toddler or preschooler is unknowingly getting ready to hold a pencil correctly. By helping them with these tasks, you’re preparing your preschool child to be successful and have great writing skills and pencil grasp.
Lastly, there is a confidence issue here that can’t be ignored. I have had countless students in my classroom who had trouble with things like zippers and buttons that ultimately lead to tears and frustration. When they feel like they are the “only one” who can’t zip their jacket, it can really frustrate that child. Now, they are definitely not the only one, but telling that to a 4 year old can sometimes prove to be futile. Many times, it leads to tears and embarrassment when they can’t do it as fast as their peers.
Working with Play Doh is a great way to work a toddler or preschooler’s fine motor skills!
Easy, fun, and no prep for mom and dad.
Fine Motor Skills Activities You Can Do At Home
Let’s take a look at some EASY fine motor skills activities that you can do at home with your preschooler to help them strengthen those finger muscles!
Playing with play-doh. Yes! Play-doh is a a great way to play and strengthen those finger muscles. Squishing, squashing, and rolling all helps develop the muscles in the hands.
Cutting with scissors. Parental supervision advised here…but yes! Safety scissors and some construction paper can be a fantastic option for practicing fine motor skills.
Practicing snaps, buttons, and zippers. Have your child start practicing these skills with their clothes more and more on their own. Even if it takes a few extra minutes to get out the door, it’s worth it for that practice.
Brushing and flossing teeth. Most likely, your child is already doing this. However, if you’re the one doing most of the legwork with the toothbrush, I encourage you to start letting your child take over this task. It has the added benefit of independence and fine motor skills practice.
Coloring with crayons or markers. Grasping the writing or coloring utensil is helping your child get ready for a pencil.
Stacking blocks or legos. Stacking blocks or large legos (watch for chocking hazards) is a great way to practice fine motor skills for preschoolers and hand-eye coordination.
Finger-painting . This is a great fine motor activity for toddlers and young preschoolers as well as older preschoolers.
Put together Puzzles.
Wiping the table before or after dinner. You get the added bonus of a clean table!
Stringing large beads. Choking hazard, please watch kids. Have your kids string large beads (not ones that can go in the mouth) with shoelaces or thick string. Those is super fun for older kids!
Sorting laundry (this one mom is sure to love!).
Turning a doorknob.
Using a glue-stick to paste paper pieces.
Using a fork and spoon at meal time.
Clapping hands together. Yes, it really is that easy!
Benefits of Working Fine Motor Skills
Children are not just strengthening their hands when working those fine motor skills. They are also working hand eye coordination, which will lead to a new world of exploration for toddlers and preschoolers. They will be able to open doors, play sports, and make new kinds of art with new tools. This will help them become more independent and facilitate independent learning later on when they are school-aged.
Dexterity, coordination, depth perception are all strengthened with fine motor practice.
Until next time,
Soli Deo Gloria,
Mandy
