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?
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Fine Motor Skills Activity with Dyed Oatmeal
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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!!!
Amanda @MissPandaChinese
Love this collection of activities for young children. Great fun!
JDaniel4's Mom
This is such a wonderful collections of ideas!
Katie @ Gift of Curiosity
Such a great collection of ideas! Thanks for sharing your fine motor activities.
Nicole Walter
What a great list of ideas! Pinning and will be using later, thanks for sharing! Hope you have a wonderful week!!
MammaNene
You shared really interesting ideas!
MammaNene from SergerPepper.blogspot.it
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!
janahowtorunahomedaycare
I'm running to grab my colander right now, fantastic idea!
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.
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
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.
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!
Sarah Avila
Great ideas! I pinned this one too!
Sharon
Pinned this to my Grandma ideas board. Great ideas!
visiting through Pin Me Linky
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
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.
Melissa
Totally pinned this so I can't "lose" it. 🙂
Melissa
Love these ideas. I have a little one with delays, fine motor included, so these are just the ticket. 🙂
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.