Fun and easy ways to integrate fine motor activities that will build hand strength, coordination and pencil grip in your preschool students
This week’s Bam Radio show is titled, “Fine Motor Skills: What Are They, Why Are They Too Important to Overlook?” and before you go any further, take a minute to listen to what the experts have to say! You can view the show and listen here or here!
“The development of fine motor skills are often a casualty of the rush to get young children up to academic speed. In this segment, our guests explain why fine motor skills are a critical building block for higher learning and should never be overlooked” (Bam Radio)
Pick Up Sticks
Sorting and Transferring Objects
I am always exploring new ways I can promote the use of fine motor skills in my classroom…
I may set out something like picking up and sorting pom poms with tweezers or chopsticks into colorful bags…
Whether the children use my homemade straw tweezers or they use their hands to pick up, manipulate, and move the pom poms – they are using their fine motor skills in the process.
Building Pre-Writing Skills
Promoting the use of fine motor skills is an important part of preparing young children to write, catch and throw a ball, type on a computer, open a door, and the list goes on. As young children develop the muscles in their hands, they develop the strength they need to complete fine motor processes that will play a valuable part in higher level learning.
Developing Proper Pencil Grip
Promoting Fine Motor Development
There are lots of ways to promote fine motor skills and help children build fine motor strength including cutting with scissors…
Squeezing, manipulating, pinching, and rolling playdough…
Weaving, lacing, and sewing…
Peeling and sticking stickers…
Scooping, pouring, mixing and the list goes on…
There are opportunities all throughout the preschool classroom to promote fine motor development!
How to Make Homemade Tweezers
I made 2 different versions of homemade tweezers from straws. This isn’t a perfect solution to real tweezers but it does provide a new experience for preschoolers to try out. The straws I used were very nice and sturdy from Meijer…
If you have a fun idea that promotes fine motor skills in young children, I invite you to add your idea in the comments section below!
Links to Grow on…
Pencil Grasp Development by OT Mom
Kindergarten Hand Exercises by OT MOM
Handwriting: Pre-K Pages
Fine Motor Development by School Sparks
30 Kids Activities and Materials for Promoting Fine Motor Skills from Hands on: as we grow
How to Help Your Toddler Develop Fine Motor Skills by Smart Parent Advice
