Fine Motor Skills

I am a huge fan of introducing fine motor at a young age.  Infants, toddlers, and preschool children need to develop their fine motor skills so they are able to write, dress and play independently.

I am providing a list of various infant, toddler and preschool fine motor activities and ideas to help them develop foundational fine motor skills they will need! And remember, help them have FUN doing it.

I love playdough for children of all ages.  I just introduced Smiles (10 months) to playdough just the other day. She loved it. Of course, her natural reaction was to put in her mouth. I just encouraged use your fingers. I let her know what I wanted her to do. I would poke the playdough and she would laugh.  With time she will stop putting it in her mouth. It was homemade, so I was not as worried if she did try and eat it.
I used this recipe

Playdough Recipe
Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 Tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
Food coloring by drops

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a pan and stir. Cook over low heat, stirring until a ball forms.
2. Add food coloring and mix thoroughly until desired color.
3. Store in covered container. I used a ziplock baggie.

The following preschool activities support young children's fine motor development and will help to build the strength and dexterity (quick and precise movements and coordination of the hands and fingers) necessary to hold a pencil appropriately.

More preschool fine motor skill activities:

Rolling play dough into tiny balls using the palms of the hands facing each other and using only the finger tips.

Cut out shapes from cardboard (circle, square, etc.) and let your child trace them.
Using toothpicks to make designs in play dough.

Give your preschooler pair of tweezers. Provide two bowls with small items. Challenge them to get all the items from one bowl to another using only the tweezers.
Tearing newspaper into strips and then crumpling them into balls.
Lacing and sewing activities such as stringing beads.
Using eye droppers to "pick up" water.
Play with Legos, miniature cars, small blocks, action figures, and other small toys.
Working puzzles
Rolling small balls out of tissue paper, then gluing the balls onto construction paper to form pictures or designs.
Scissor activities
Clapping games
Connect the dots activities
Trace around stencils
Work on a chalkboard
Paint at an easel
Make crafts using scissors and gluing
Finger painting
Tying bows or tying shoes
weaving
geo boards
biggie beads

I have done many of these activities and I am always seeking more ideas. I think I will have to come up with 2 fine motor skills to use each week. Lately, it has been gluing and more gluing. Sweetheart will cut and then glue away. 



I found this list of fine motor activites for preschoolers
The following preschool activities support young children's fine motor development and will help to build the strength and dexterity (quick and precise movements and coordination of the hands and fingers) necessary to hold a pencil appropriately.

More preschool fine motor skill activities:

http://www.preschoolactivitybox.com/preschoolfinemotorskills.htm

Rolling play dough into tiny balls using the palms of the hands facing each other and using only the finger tips.

Cut out shapes from cardboard (circle, square, etc.) and let your child trace them.

Using toothpicks to make designs in play dough.

Give your preschooler pair of tweezers. Provide two bowls with small items. Challenge them to get all the items from one bowl to another using only the tweezers.

Tearing newspaper into strips and then crumpling them into balls.

Lacing and sewing activities such as stringing beads.

Using eye droppers to "pick up" water.

Play with Legos, miniature cars, small blocks, action figures, and other small toys.

Working puzzles

Rolling small balls out of tissue paper, then gluing the balls onto construction paper to form pictures or designs.

Scissor activities

Gross motor activities: Wheelbarrow walking, crab walking.

Clapping games

Connect the dots activities

Trace around stencils

Work on a chalkboard

Paint at an easel

Make crafts using scissors and gluing

Finger painting

Tying bows or tying shoes