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  • Hi, I'm Vicky, the founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for family-friendly recipes, recipes that kids can make, and play and learning activities for kids, you will find them at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me. Thanks for stopping by!

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    Home » Fine Motor Skills Activities

    18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers

    Published: Oct 28, 2019 · Modified: Jul 18, 2022 by Vicky · This post contains affiliate links.

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    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 skills 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.
    Jump to:
    • Why are fine motor skills important?
    • What items are helpful for practicing fine motor skills for preschoolers?
    • Fine motor skills activities for 3-5 year olds

    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.

    children placing tooth picks in shaker

    Fine Motor Work with Golf Tees

    This fine motor exercise will help kids to gain hand strength as they push golf tees into foam. Even a toddler can do it! We use these golf tees for lots of activities.

    child placing golf tees in foam

    Fine Motor Fun Tong Transfer

    In addition to fine motor practice, you can use this activity with pom poms to help with color recognition. These tongs are a great size for kids and you will use them again and again.

    Fine Motor tong transfer

    Play Dough and Beads

    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.

    placing play dough in beads

    Patterned Bead Snakes

    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.

    pattern bead snake

    Fruit Loop Towers

    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 cereal stack

    Making Straw Jewelry

    Fun for little fingers! This is another activity that my preschoolers and toddler both enjoyed. When they are done threading the straws on to the pipe cleaners, they will have colorful pasta jewelry to wear and incorporate into pretend play.

    MAKING STRAW JEWELRY

    Woven Paper Place mats

    Small hand muscles 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.

    child weaving paper placemat

    Fine Motor Work with A Colander

    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!

    placing pipe cleaners in colander

    You Can Count on Me

    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.

    child holding pipe cleaners

    Fine Motor Skills for Preschoolers Pasta Play

    Fine motor skills for preschoolers are so important. Here is a fun game you can make using dyed pasta. Directions to dye pasta included.

    placing pasta in foam

    Color Drop Game

    You can make this game yourself and it helps kids learn their colors in addition to fine motor skills.This is a great activity for developing hand-eye coordination.
    child placing straws in container
    Fine Motor Activity with Play Dough and Q-Tips
    Find out how to make dyed q-tips and use them for a fine motor color matching activity like placing them in clay.
    child holding tray with q tips and play dough

    Fine Motor Skills Activity with Dyed Oatmeal

    This fine motor skills activity is lets kids practice important skills while engaging in a fun sensory activity. Learn how to color oats and incorporate them into a fun fine motor activity with this sensory bin and clothespins.
    container with dyed oatmeal and containers

    Marshmallow Sculptures

    Kids will have no idea they are actually building small motor skills while playing with marshmallows. They may eat some marshmallows along the way

    in this fun fine motor activity.

    marshmallow sculptures with toothpicks

    Counting Bead Fun

    Pipe cleaners again? Did you buy them yet? Practice counting and math skills while working those little muscles with Counting with Beads and Pipe Cleaners.

    counting with beads and pipe cleaners

    Fine Motor Skills Water Art

    Find out how to make this fine motor skills water art. You won't believe how easy it is and how quickly you can set up this art activity.

    water art

    Q-Tips and Straws Fine Motor Activity

    This is a great way to help little hands strengthen fine motor skills and work on colors at the same time.

    Q-Tips and Straws Fine Motor Activity
    18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers. Love how lots of these ideas use stuff you already have around the house.

    Related posts

    • Christmas Fine Motor Skills Activities
    • Valentine's Day Fine Motor Skills Activities for Kids

     

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    More Fine Motor Skills Activities

    • Easter Fine Motor Activities
    • St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Craft
    • St. Patrick's Day Kids Fine Motor Activities
    • Fine Motor Skills Activity with Dyed Oatmeal

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rachel Harwood

      February 21, 2013 at 4:30 am

      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!!!

    2. Amanda @MissPandaChinese

      February 20, 2013 at 6:49 am

      Love this collection of activities for young children. Great fun!

    3. JDaniel4's Mom

      February 19, 2013 at 5:58 pm

      This is such a wonderful collections of ideas!

    4. Katie @ Gift of Curiosity

      February 18, 2013 at 9:55 pm

      Such a great collection of ideas! Thanks for sharing your fine motor activities.

    5. Nicole Walter

      February 18, 2013 at 3:36 am

      What a great list of ideas! Pinning and will be using later, thanks for sharing! Hope you have a wonderful week!!

    6. MammaNene

      February 17, 2013 at 7:51 pm

      You shared really interesting ideas!
      MammaNene from SergerPepper.blogspot.it

    7. motheronamission

      February 17, 2013 at 3:30 am

      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!

    8. janahowtorunahomedaycare

      February 16, 2013 at 8:05 pm

      I'm running to grab my colander right now, fantastic idea!

    9. Shaffer Sisters

      February 16, 2013 at 4:52 pm

      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.

    10. For The Love of Learning

      February 16, 2013 at 3:41 pm

      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

    11. Stephanie

      February 16, 2013 at 5:34 am

      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.

    12. Kirstylee

      February 15, 2013 at 8:43 pm

      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!

    13. Sarah Avila

      February 15, 2013 at 6:06 pm

      Great ideas! I pinned this one too!

    14. Sharon

      February 15, 2013 at 4:56 pm

      Pinned this to my Grandma ideas board. Great ideas!
      visiting through Pin Me Linky

    15. Ryan Judd

      February 15, 2013 at 12:39 pm

      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

    16. The Monko

      February 13, 2013 at 8:07 pm

      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.

    17. Melissa

      February 13, 2013 at 6:54 pm

      Totally pinned this so I can't "lose" it. 🙂

    18. Melissa

      February 13, 2013 at 6:53 pm

      Love these ideas. I have a little one with delays, fine motor included, so these are just the ticket. 🙂

    19. School Sparks Renee

      February 12, 2013 at 12:49 am

      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

    20. Sam @ Thrive360 Living

      February 12, 2013 at 5:07 am

      What a great collection! I'm definitely pinning this post. My favorite is the fruit loops tower.

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    Hi, I'm Vicky, the founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for family-friendly recipes, recipes that kids can make, and play and learning activities for kids, you will find them at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me. Thanks for stopping by!

    Easter Activities and Recipes

    • Stained Glass Easter Cookie Recipe
    • How to Make Spotted Easter Eggs
    • M&M Easter Cookies
    • Shaving Cream Easter Eggs

    Spring Activities

    • How to Make a Mother's Day Card
    • DIY Seed Starter for Kids
    • Flower Craft Idea
    • How to Make a Paper Butterfly - Easy Craft for Kids

    Popular Recipes

    • Crack Chicken Casserole
    • Overnight Egg Casserole
    • Toasted Italian Sandwich - Food Fun Friday
    • Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Bake

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