18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers

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?
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 lets kids practice important skills while engaging in a fun sensory activity. Be sure to also check out this Fine Motor Skills Activity for Preschoolers.. Another activity that does this fine motor practice with straws.. 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.

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.