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Fine Motor Activities
These fun fine motor activities can help your child to develop the skills needed for handwriting and self-care tasks.
Over the years I have written lots and lots of pages crammed with photographed activity ideas - so this page is where I link to them all.
I've categorized the different pages with a brief overview of each category.
All these free pages contain photos, tips, and loads of helpful information. You will also find links to related pages on my site, because issues like pencil grasp and handwriting are very relevant when you are looking to boost your child's fine motor skills.
- Hand and finger exercises and activities
- Scissor skills (and why they are important)
- Essential foundations for fine motor development
- Themed fine motor activities
- Pencil grip and handwriting
- Helpful tips from other bloggers
- Free printable fine motor download!
- Don't miss my fine motor e-books!
- References
This site is intended to promote your child's normal development. If you are at all concerned about your child's fine motor development, please consult your health professional. Use of this site is not a substitute for an occupational therapy evaluation and treatment.
Hand, Finger and Wrist Activities
Being able to control the small muscles of the hands and fingers has been shown to have a greater impact on handwriting skills than the actual pencil grip the child uses. Fine motor activities should, therefore, make up a big part of a child's daily life, in order to prepare him/her for handwriting.
These pages on my site provide easy-to-do fine motor exercises and activities to strengthen hand and finger muscles and improve dexterity in the hands. I also give ideas on how to help kids develop better finger movement and pencil control, but you should only try those activities once your child has mastered the simpler activities.
The position of the wrist plays an important role in how well your child will be able to control the pencil when writing, and so I have included a page about wrist extension (the position of the wrist) as well as a page of activities and exercises that may help kids who struggle with poor wrist positioning.
All of the practical information and activities found in the articles above, plus bonus activities and guidelines, can be found in my handy Fine Motor Activities download, for the price of a couple of coffees!
Scissor Skills And Their Importance
Cutting with scissors is an important fine motor exercise, as it strengthens the fingers that are needed to control the pencil, and also helps develop stability on the ulnar side of the hand (the little finger side of the hand). This can help children with other fine motor skills, including handwriting.
Preschoolers should spend lots of time learning to cut with scissors, and I have written these pages to inspire you with photographed ideas and to answer frequently asked questions about how to help kids learn to cut, and how to help them improve their cutting skills.
My Scissor Skills Resource Pack!
My 33 page scissor skills e-book covers all the information in my scissor cutting pages, and will give you step by step photographed activities to help your child master scissor skills.
Essential Info For Fine Motor Development
There are many factors that can influence a child's fine motor development.
In addition, I look at why some so-called fine motor products and activities actually frustrate your child instead of helping them.
Themed Fine Motor Activities
These themed pages contain some fun fine motor activities and ideas to help your child build skills with playdough, baking or Christmas activities...
Pages Related To Fine Motor Function
When parents are looking for fine motor activities to help their child, they often have questions about related skills and issues, such as pencil grips and handwriting.
Check out these pages on my site for some answers to your questions!
Pencil Grasp Pages
Letter Formations and Handwriting
Helpful Tips From Other Bloggers
Some of my blogger friends have written helpful articles related to fine motor skills - check them out
- Did you know that very messy handwriting can be a symptom of dyslexia?
- Tips to help kids with autism develop hand skills - by the author of "From Flapping to Function"
Free Printable Fine Motor Download
This free printable download gives you an overview of the essential bases for fine motor development.
It is part of a set of 3 handouts that I compiled to help parents understand how fine motor skills, gross motor skills and visual perception skills can affect your child's learning.
You will get all 3 handouts absolutely free when you sign up for my newsletter!
Three Free Handouts When You Sign Up For My Newsletter!
Thank you for visiting my site! I hope you found it helpful!
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References and Resources:
Cornhill, H; Case-Smith, J. Factors That Relate to Good and Poor Handwriting. 50(9):732-9 · November 1996 http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.50.9.732
Ohl, A. M., Graze, H., Weber, K., Kenny, S., Salvatore, C., & Wagreich, S. Effectiveness of a 10-week Tier-1 Response to Intervention program in improving fine motor and visual–motor skills in general education kindergarten students. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67, 507–514. Sep/Oct 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.008110
Sharp, G. and Thompson, D. (2001-11-27) Biomechanics of the Hand. Retrieved (last checked 2019-01-04) from https://ouhsc.edu/bserdac/dthompso/web/namics/hand.htm
Weintraub, N. ;Graham, S. The contribution of gender, orthographic, finger function, and visual-motor processes to the prediction of handwriting status. The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research; 20(2):121-140 · March 2000 http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/153944920002000203
Didn't find what you were looking for? Try a search of my site!
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All activities should take place under close adult supervision. Some activities use small items which may cause choking.
The activities suggested on this website are NOT a substitute for Occupational Therapy intervention. Please read my disclaimer before you use any of the activities.
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