Helping your toddler or preschooler practice their fine motor skills doesn’t have to be boring.
Young kids need to build up their hand muscles and coordination so they will be able to write by the time they’re in school.
I found 21 fun activity ideas to build fine motor skills and keep your little one busy for a while.
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These activities are designed to help your two year old, three year old, four year old, or five year old with their hand eye coordination and control over their muscles.
They may seem a little easy, but that’s okay. Repetition is good for developing simple but important movements.
Adults tend to take our pencil grasp for granted. We forget that it’s not a natural occurrence. It takes years to work up to it.
These activities can help your toddler or preschooler on their way to writing and good coordination.
If you also need gross motor activities, check these out.
Items that are great for Fine Motor Activities
Crayons
Pencils
Yarn or string
Straws
Tape
Anything that can be pinched or grabbed or stuck through a hole. You don’t need a lot of fancy things to practice small and precise movements with your toddler or preschooler.
On to the fine motor skills activities!
1
Free Printables for Building Fine Motor Skills
Print out these free worksheets for your toddler or preschooler to practice their fine motor skills.
2
Create with Crayons Easy Sensory Bin Idea
Unleash your child's creativity with this easy sensory bin focused on coloring.
3
Humpty Dumpty Sticky Band Aids Fine Motor Activity Idea
Photo Credit: myboredtoddler.com
Your toddler can help put Humpty back together again.
4
Tape Pull Fine Motor Activity
Photo Credit: mamapapabubba.com
Work on the pincer grasp with this easy activity.
5
Fine Motor Activity: Pushing Straws in a Cereal Box
Photo Credit: mamaot.com
Recycle your old cereal boxes and some straws while building fine motor skills.
6
Wash the Socks: a Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers
Photo Credit: dayswithgrey.com
This is a cute idea for pretend play.
7
Taped toys fine motor activity for toddlers and preschoolers
Photo Credit: laughingkidslearn.com
Here's another simple activity with tape.
8
"Bobbing" for Apples Fine Motor Fall Activity - Fantastic Fun & Learning
Photo Credit: www.fantasticfunandlearning.com
Tongs work really well for building fine motor skills in toddlers and preschoolers.
9
Spring Flower Fine Motor Tray Activity
Photo Credit: www.notimeforflashcards.com
Even though this is for Spring, you can do this activity any time of the year.
10
Golf Tees and Marbles – A Fine Motor Activity
Photo Credit: jugglingwithkids.com
Have any golf tees around your house? Here's a simple idea. Just be careful your kids don't eat the marbles!
11
Preschool Activity for Color Matching and Fine Motor Skills -
Photo Credit: mamaot.com
Use those little fingers to match colors.
12
Pine cones and elastic bands activity
Photo Credit: theimaginationtree.com
If you have pine cones in your area, this is a neat idea for a nature study.
13
Q-Tips and Straws
Photo Credit: www.messforless.net
Here's another color coordinating fine motor activity.
14
Block Drop Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers
Photo Credit: mamaot.com
Learn about squares with this easy to make activity.
15
Simple Fine Motor Activity using Pom Poms
Photo Credit: activelittles.com
Have some pom poms? Try this!
16
FUN FINE MOTOR IDEA
Photo Credit: www.youclevermonkey.com
If you have a pipette this is a really cool idea for fine motor fun.
17
Pool Noodle Activities Fine Motor Fun
Photo Credit: www.learning4kids.net
Pool noodles aren't just for the pool.
18
Rescue the Sea Creatures: Fine Motor Activity
Photo Credit: happytoddlerplaytime.com
Fun with sea creatures.
19
Fine Motor Scissor Cutting Activity for Kids
Photo Credit: activelittles.com
Practice scissor skills. Make sure you supervise.
20
Feed the Ghost Fine Motor Activity
Photo Credit: happytoddlerplaytime.com
Even if it's not Halloween, you can still try this activity. Or re-theme it yourself.
21
Lacing cards
Photo Credit: teachingmama.org
Lace yarn or string through the holes for a fun fine motor activity.
What are your favorite fine motor activities for toddlers and preschoolers?
Let me know in the comments below!
My daughter is 5 years old now, but some of these are great for kindergarten too. She loved a lot of these ideas when she was 2 and 3 years old.
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