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October 15, 2018 | 8 Comments

10 Everyday Fine Motor Activities for Preschool

I love seeing innovation in preschool classrooms, elaborate learning provocations, and invitations to play but simplicity is important in preschool as well. Finding simple activities for your classroom seems to be harder and harder as we share the amazing much more than the mundane. That said, these ideas aren’t mundane for our students, or for new teachers who are looking for tried and true ideas as they find their teaching legs. So I thought today, instead of a “great new idea” I would share the tried and true instead. These are fine motor activities I have used for decades and still use because they work.

fine motor skills are useful for handwriting and life skills

Why are fine motor skills important?

Fine motor activities are so important in preschool because as children develop these skills and strength in their hands and fingers, they will not only have a simpler time learning to write these skills but also help them to master things like using eating utensils, buttoning their pants, and zipping up their coats. So as you can imagine these are important skills and as teachers, we don’t have time to reinvent the wheel with elaborate activities when we need to be incorporating these activities every day. So here is a big list of simple ideas you can do with little planning!

This list contains links to products and if purchases are made through these links, I may earn a small commission.

 

 

playdough fine motor activities for preschool

1. Playdough – add in some buttons to dig out, scissors to cut, and garlic presses for extra fun but don’t fret, if all you have is plain playdough, you will still be helping your students develop hand strength and fine motor skills.

2. Lego – Try popping a handful on a tray or better yet this simple game only takes a few minutes to throw together, but it’s so much fun! Lego is the crown jewel of all fine motor activities.

Peeling stickers and developing fine motor skills

3. Stickers – on cards, paper, or my favorite a sticker station! 

4. Beading with beads or with cereal – I love my bead tray ( pictured above) but using simple pipe cleaners, and O cereal is a great way to make magic wands or bracelets.

sorting and matching with tongs

5. Turn anything into fine motor activities with tongs. Using tongs with sorting and matching activities – adding tongs is a great way to up the challenge for simple sorting. Find my favorite tongs here. 

Use lacing cards to help develop fine motor skills

6. Lacing cards – I love these ones.

pipe cleaners are great materials for fine motor development

7. Pipe cleaners and this utensil holder from Ikea or a strainer. 

q-tips are great paint brushes for fine motor

8. Q-Tip Painting – all you need is paint and paper… oh and some q-tips.

fine motor activities for preschool that use pipettes

9. Water Transfer – Grab some pipettes and an ice cube tray, and you are all set.

cutting station

10. Cutting Station  – this takes a few minutes to make but then all you need to do is add scrap paper, and you can use this for years.

Filed Under: Age Preschool, Fine Motor Activities, Preschool Activities | 8 Comments

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8 Comments

  1. j keath says

    October 20, 2018 at 10:24 am

    Your spider theme circle time activity is so cute! Thanks very much!

    to j keath" aria-label='reply to this comment to j keath'>reply to this comment
  2. Anya says

    January 18, 2020 at 12:03 pm

    I love the ideas ! Thank you for sharing.

    to Anya" aria-label='reply to this comment to Anya'>reply to this comment

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    April 30, 2020 at 12:58 pm

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  2. Fine Motor Skills Activity with Beads - Toddler Approved says:
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  3. Fine Motor Skills Activity with Beads - New Mommy Blog says:
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    November 26, 2020 at 8:56 pm

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  6. Pre-K Homeschool Curriculum: Free Resources for Ages 3-4 says:
    January 9, 2021 at 7:39 am

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