It's no secret that fine motor development plays 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?
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Why are fine motor skills important?
Fine motor skills are important for young children and they affect everything from self feeding to using scissors to writing with pencils. As children grow, there will be a greater demand placed on their motor skill development. They will be expected to dress themselves and use zippers and buttons. Drawing and writing will be easier if your child has strong fine motor skills.
What items are helpful for practicing fine motor skills for preschoolers?
- Stickers
- Tweezers - pinching these and picking up objects with them is a great activity.
- Pipettes or droppers - use these to draw up and release water in a cup.
- Ice cube tray - for sorting
- Lego toys - helps to work the pincer grasp while kids are pulling them apart.
- Lacing cards - they are great to keep in a car for road trip or to take to a restaurant.
- Paper clips - attach them and take them apart.
Fine motor skills 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. It really works on those small muscles! You can find the cheese shakers here.
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School Sparks Renee
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
Sam @ Thrive360 Living
What a great collection! I'm definitely pinning this post. My favorite is the fruit loops tower.
Melissa
Love these ideas. I have a little one with delays, fine motor included, so these are just the ticket. 🙂
Melissa
Totally pinned this so I can't "lose" it. 🙂
The Monko
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.
Ryan Judd
I love these! Great suggestions and pictures to illustrate the activities. I will share this on my FB and Twitter page!
Ryan Judd, MA, MT-BC
http://www.TheRhythmTree.com
Sharon
Pinned this to my Grandma ideas board. Great ideas!
visiting through Pin Me Linky
Sarah Avila
Great ideas! I pinned this one too!
Kirstylee
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!
Stephanie
I seriously need to do some of these with my 3-yr-old. This looks great for keeping her entertained and learning while the older siblings are in school.
For The Love of Learning
These are wonderful! I have many fine motor ideas on my blog too for toddlers if anyone would like to see. 🙂
-Deborah @ For The Love of Learning
http://fortheloveoflearningblog.blogspot.com
Shaffer Sisters
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.
janahowtorunahomedaycare
I'm running to grab my colander right now, fantastic idea!
motheronamission
I love these! I have a two year old, and I know fine motor skills are something I need to consciously develop with him. Thanks for sharing!
MammaNene
You shared really interesting ideas!
MammaNene from SergerPepper.blogspot.it
Nicole Walter
What a great list of ideas! Pinning and will be using later, thanks for sharing! Hope you have a wonderful week!!
Katie @ Gift of Curiosity
Such a great collection of ideas! Thanks for sharing your fine motor activities.
JDaniel4's Mom
This is such a wonderful collections of ideas!
Amanda @MissPandaChinese
Love this collection of activities for young children. Great fun!
Rachel Harwood
What a fun and fabulous collection of ideas here! This is a great post! Thank you for sharing at For the Kids Fridays! I am featuring this post at this week's party! YIPPEE!!!
Diana - FreeStyleMama
Great collection!
Rebecca English
This is a fabulous collection of activities. My twins are nearly three and will love these.
Thanks for linking to the Sunday showcase. I've pinned this to our board.
Angie Christensen
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.
Ashley Wells
That must start from the childhood, and the best way to do that is to choose proper problem solving activities for preschoolers.
http://kidslearninghub.com
Nora M.
Thank you so much for the list here! I plan to use some of these with the kids I nanny for. Thanks so much!
Vicky @ Mess For Less
So happy it will be of help to you Nora!
Jessica
Superb activities. I am using them tom improve the fine motor skills of my year old girl
Seema Mehta
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.
kethrine
great
kethrine
that is great article from child perpective
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