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18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers

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It’s no secret that fine motor skills play an important role in a child’s development and success at school. When I was teaching Preschool and Kindergarten, I saw many kids who had weak fine motor skills. I created a variety of fine motor activities to use in the classroom for students of all skill levels, as everyone can use a little help. Many parents wanted to work on fine motor skills at home too and they often asked me for ideas. The cheap fine motor activities for preschoolers that I will be sharing today will help kids strengthen their skills while incorporating learning from various parts of the curriculum. I just love sneaking in some learning wherever I can, don’t you?
These 18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers will keep your kids busy while they work on important skills. #finemotorskills #finemotoractivities #kidsactivities


FINE MOTOR ACTIVITIES FOR 3-5 YEAR OLDS

Please supervise children while they are doing these activities.

Pushing Toothpicks
I just love easy fine motor activities! This one requires 2 supplies and is pretty easy to take anywhere. You can find the cheese shakers here.

Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
This fine motor exercise will help kids to gain strength as they push golf tees into foam. Even a toddler can do it! We use these golf tees for lots of activities.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
In addition to fine motor practice, you can use this activity to help with color recognition. These tongs are a great size for kids and you will use them again and again.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
What kid doesn’t love play dough? Take advantage of that by adding some beads for fine motor practice. Try making this oatmeal play dough recipe with kids. It works great for this activity.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
Stringing beads on a pipe cleaner is a great way to work on fine motor skills. Add some fun by creating a snake. You can also use this as a way to teach colors and patterns.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
Raid your pantry for this yummy activity that will have kids reaching and grasping for more. When you are done, you can make this cereal rainbow craft with the leftover cheerios.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
Fun for little fingers! This is another activity that my preschoolers and toddler both enjoyed. When they are done, they will have colorful pasta jewelry to wear and incorporate into pretend play.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
Little hands get quite the workout as they weave paper under and over to create a pretty place mat. You can laminate these when they are done and use them for meals.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
Love this new use for a strainer or colander! In addition to being a great fine motor activity, this unleashes imagination and keeps kids busy. Win!
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
Math combined with fine motor work? Count me in (pun very much intended)! This is another one of those activities that just use a few items you probably already have.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
You can make this game yourself and it helps kids learn their colors in addition to fine motor skills.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
Find out how to make dyed q-tips and use them for a fine motor color matching activity.
This fine motor skills activity is lets kids practices important skills while engaging in a fun sensory activity. Learn how to color oats and incorporate them into a fun fine motor activity.
 
Kids will have no idea they are actually building small motor skills while playing with marshmallows. They may eat some marshmallows along the way.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
I consider pipe cleaners an essential fine motor item. They sell them at the dollar store so pick some up and play!
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
Not only does this help improve fine motor skills, it encourages kids to help out around the house. I cannot guarantee they will continue to help with chores as they get older.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
 
Pipe cleaners again? Did you buy them yet? Practice counting and math skills while working those little muscles.
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
This is a great way to help little hands strengthen fine motor skills and work on colors at the same time.
18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers. Love how lots of these ideas use stuff you already have around the house. #kids, #education

 

I hope you enjoyed these Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers and that they keep your kids busy and engaged!

GOT A CRAFTY KID? 

The folks at Annie’s know crafting, so you know they have put together some amazing kits for your kids.

For girls:

The Creative Girls Club subscription box will get your girl’s creative juices flowing. Girls get two kits each month full of crafting fun. Best of all, the crafting can be done with minimal adult supervision. While she is creating, she will be learning valuable skills such as painting, beading, stitching, paper crafting, and much more!

For boys and girls:

These Young Woodworkers Kits have everything your little builder needs to create crafts and toys they can enjoy, while learning important woodworking skills along the way. Your child’s first three kits will include 5 kid-sized, high-quality tools they’ll use again and again. A new woodworking project is delivered every four weeks, with a new and exciting skill to master. Each project teaches a new, real world skill that kids will use for years to come.

If you liked these fine motor activities for preschoolers, you’ll love:

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Comments

  1. School Sparks Renee says

    Vicky – These are amazing ideas. I'm a huge proponent of fine motor practice for little ones. I especially like the colander and toothpick pushing activities. Hadn't thought of those! 🙂 Thanks for sharing. Renee

    Reply

  5. The Monko says

    wow what a great round up. We have done a fair few of these but there are some i haven't tried yet and some that it was great to be reminded of I'm sharing this on my FB page.

    Reply

  9. Kirstylee says

    These are great. I was just thinking that I needed to look up some fine motor activities for my kids. Luckily, I found this post just in time. I love all the ideas!

    Reply

  12. Shaffer Sisters says

    I love this list and that you used affordable and everyday items. I am saving this for next week I wanted to take some time and enjoy my kiddos. I am pinning this so I remember these.

    Reply

  23. Angie Christensen says

    We've used the bathroom clings with suction cups on the bottom (like what you might put in the bottom of your bathtub) for several different fine motor activities. Turn them upside down so the suction cups are facing up. The kiddos use tweezers or strawberry hullers to pick up beans or pom poms and put one into each suction cup. They an also use eye droppers to squeeze water into each suction cup. If you don't have bathroom clings, you can also use an inexpensive kitchen mat that you would sit underneath your dishes drainer.

    Reply

  27. Seema Mehta says

    Development of motor skills is important for the overall growth of children and pre-schoolers and that is what I think. The ideas are amazing and the collection is really neat too! Not generic ideas that people think of everyday! It is a really great job by Vicky.

    Reply

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