Stimulating Fine motor skills for baby and toddlers

Remember fine motor skills are developing and children are building a critical foundation for future fine motor skills abilities within the first 6 years of their life

Infant, toddler and preschool need to develop fine motor skills so they are able to write, dress, and play independently.

Fine motor skills stimulating activities for Infant

1. Rattles and Teethers

shake, bang, reach and hold

2. Banging Activities

* banging two toys together

* pound-a-ball toys

* banging hands on high chair

* toy workbench and hammer toys

* musical instruments

Fine motor skills stimulating activities for toddlers

1. Bubbles

* pop bubbles by clapping

* pop bubbles by poking

* have child place bubble wand in and out of containers

* try to catch bubbles on the wand

2. Stacking

* rings

* blocks

* books

* cookies

* lego

* cups

* small empty containers

* small cardboard boxes or empty shoe boxes

3. Eye - hand coordination

* Insert pennies into coin bank

* Insert wooden shape into respective whole (shape sorter)

* puzzle

* peg boards

* books / touching books

* activity table

* ball play

4. Paper activities

* Rip the paper until it's small

5. Painting activities

* Stamping using vegetables

* Scribble using brush

* Finger painting

Fine motor skill stimulating activity for Preschoolers

1. Play dough or clay

* roll into ball or snakes

* use shaped cutters, rolling pins, and garlic press

* play dough factories

2. Stringing and Lacing

* large beads

* colored macaroni

3. Paper activities

* use ripped paper to fill in/paste onto a pre-drawn shape

* use kids scissors to cut out simple shapes or strips of paper

* use small manipulatives to create a collage or picture

* make paper chains

4. Dressing Activities

 * "learn to dress" dolls, boards, and puzzles

* zipper and snap toys

* put clothes on dolls

5. Strengthening  Activities

* use a spray bottle to squirt colored water on picture or snow

* use hole punches

* push pegs into clay

* cut cardboard

* mix ingredients for baking/cooking

6. Pre-writting activities

* use tweezers to pick up small objects or cotton balls

* open/close ziplock bags

* use an eye dropper to make pictures with colored water by dripping drops of water on paper towels, tissue paper, or coffee filters

* roll up balls of cookie dough, tissue paper, or play dough

Naturally, the age of the child will determine which preschool, toddler, or infant fine motor activities you use. The outcome, however, will be the same; developing the important muscles of the hand and wrist to allow for precise hand control and strength, but HOW you get there will be different.

Have Fun Playing !