Fine Motor Skills Activities

Fine motor skills activities aren’t just useful for handwriting prep. They are more about all those self-help skills, like using utensils, doing up buttons, zipping coats, and eventually learning to tie those super cute and totally impractical lace-up shoes.  I include some fine motor work in every free choice setup and in many group lessons every week. My co-teacher and I are constantly assessing our preschool students, our curriculum, and our practice. It’s probably the main reason I feel like we are so effective. We always discuss where each student is in their development and what we think they need to get to that next step. One area that we are super happy about the progress we’ve made this year is with our students’ fine motor skills. Here are some of the fine motor skills activities we have had fun exploring with our preschoolers.

What are some great activities to develop preschoolers’ fine motor skills?

Play is almost always my answer, but when we are trying to target specific skills, we need to play with specific tools. For fine motor skills development, one of the best tools to play with is Lego. Lego isn’t the only option, though. Playing with toys like Mr. Potato Head, Playdough, beads, and even stickers packs a punch when it comes to helping children develop these all-important skills.

Lego activities that promote fine motor development

Roll & Build Lego Game <– my favorite!
Lego Challenges 
Simple Lego activities that use everyday Lego bricks.

Playdough activities for fine motor skills development.

Playdough garden with popsicle stick flowers
Find the animal – playdough treasure hunt
Playdough Nature Prints
Playdough Fossils 
Chocolate Playdough and bakery play
Playdough letters with and without cookie cutters
75 Things to Add to Playdough to make it more fun

Fine Motor Beading activities for preschool

Roll & Bead – math and fine motor
Bead Tray ( this takes 2 minutes to make)
Bead Drop
Color Matching Bead Activity 
Bead with Candy
Fairy Wands

Fun ways to use stickers to boost preschoolers’ fine motor development

Dot Sticker Bugs
Letter Matching with Stickers
Sticker Station 
Color Matching with Stickers

Unique ways to work on Fine Motor Skills At Preschool

I love using novel activities to engage my students, and activities like these fine motor activities for preschool below are always met with enthusiasm.

Lightable activities are great for fine motor development!
Sticky Sheep
Flower Tray 
Fine Motor Rainbow Color Match
Shape Sticky Window
Mini Eraser Fine Motor Challenge
Cutting Station 
Cork & Rubber Bands 
Color Mixing 

Preschool Crafts that Boost children’s Fine Motor Skills

Play isn’t the only way. One of the reasons I’ve never jumped on the ban all crafts in preschool bandwagon is because I see the benefit creating crafts has on fine motor skill development. These preschool crafts have a ton of fine motor work, but remember, all process art has some element of fine motor skill development so make sure you have ample access to process art daily.

Clothespin Dinosaur 
Clay Snail
Marshmallow Rainbow
Sea Urchin 
Q-Tip Painted Snowflake ( make it a flower for spring, pumpkins for fall, or a watermelon for summer! )
Constellations 
Worm Painting 

 

Need more learning activities for your preschoolers?

For more simple fine motor skills activity ideas, check out my newest book Everyday Preschool – it’s packed with simple learning activities that work on important skills children need.