Fine Motor
What are examples of fine motor skills and activities?
- Fine motor skills can include small movements such as:
- holding a pencil
- maneuvering a pencil
- scissor skills
- pushing Lego blocks together (and pulling them apart)
- manipulating play dough
- getting dressed with belts, buttons, zippers and snaps
- using silverware while eating
- opening and closing latches
- technology/mouse manipulation
- Why are fine motor skills important for a preschooler?As you can see, many of these skills are needed in a child’s (and adult’s) everyday tasks.
Without having gained strength in fine motor skills, a child can suffer moving forward. They may not have the ability to do these small tasks, but they also may lack the confidence to do more advanced tasks or projects because of this inability.
You can check out the chart of fine motor development on Kidsense.org.
Are you convinced now that fine motor skills are important to focus on just a bit?
Of course, I still recommend not going crazy about it. Don’t expect your kid to be able to make straight lines and hold their pencil correctly when they’re two years old.
But if you notice they are lacking in their fine motor ability, there are tons of fun ways to help improve it.
The big question becomes…
“How can I improve my child’s fine motor skills?”Let’s have fun with promoting their fine motor skills anytime! No need to wait until they’re behind, right?
These are some supply suggestions that naturally promote fine motor through activities for preschoolers.
Materials that promote fine motor skills… and click the link (or look below) to find fine motor activities to do with them!
By the way, these would be fantastic to put together in a “fine motor kit” to have on hand. - Pom Poms in general are small, needing small movements to grasp them, pick them up, and move them. They are fantastic material to work on hand eye coordination.
- Buttons are also small items that work great in developing fine motor skills. Picking them up works those small muscles, But the true fine motor skills comes in the act of buttoning something up, that takes some amazing finger strength and hand eye coordination.
- Paper Clips are great for finger movements and manipulation. Being able to slide the clip onto a piece of paper takes a lot of concentration for kids in preschool and kindergarten.
- Clothespins are a fantastic material for building finger strength. We use them a lot in our learning activities that the kids absolutely love.
- Rubber Bands also work on finger strength, but in the opposite way that most materials do. These are a fantastic addition to any fine motor activity!
- Tweezers take a lot of hand eye coordination to be able to operate successfully and move an item from one place to another. Try it!
- Pipe Cleaners can be used as a great tool for fine motor skills. They can be threaded and poked!
- Straws can be used as beads, to thread onto something! But they also work great with play dough too.
- Play Dough is fantastic for building those small muscles! Kneading, pushing and rolling the dough really helps! Find out how to make homemade playdough.
Reading
Ten tips for sharing books with a preschooler:Sharing a book with a preschooler is a perfect opportunity to enjoy a great story, while helping develop their pre-reading skills. Children at this age learn best through play and experience, rather than formal instruction:
- Make sure the book is age-appropriate and about something that interests them. To develop children's interest and enthusiasm for reading, books must capture their attention, captivate their imaginations and make them want to return to them again and again.
- Make reading fun! Use expression and different voices for different characters. Tell your child the words and let them ‘read’ the part of their favourite character.
- Read as often and as much as you can. Be prepared to read their favourite books over and over again. If they say “Read it again!” you have found a winner. It may be boring for you but it’s essential for their brain development and early learning.
- Read the title of the book and talk about the pictures. Encourage your child to predict what the book is going to be about.
- Look at who the author and illustrator are. Do you know any other books by the same people? Make a list of favourite authors and illustrators to look for at the library or bookshop.
- When you read to your child, run your finger under the words from time to time as you read them. This will teach him that you read from top to bottom and left to right.
- Ask questions about the story, but make sure there is no right or wrong answer. Ask if there are any words they don’t know and explain the meaning of them.
- Provide a wide variety of reading materials such as non-fiction, magazines, poetry books and joke books. Browse libraries, garage sales and second hand book stores.
- You don’t have to read just at bedtime – read any time of day, anywhere! Keep books near your child’s toys or play areas so they are always available. Take a book everywhere - in the car, while waiting for appointments, while travelling on public transport.
- Visit your local library together and sign-up your preschooler for their very own library card. Let them choose some books to borrow. If they have chosen the book they will be more interested to listen to it.
- Encourage family and friends to give books as gifts.
- Share books with friends/families with young children, and ask what they are enjoying reading.
- Find someone else to read to your child. Most libraries offer free Story Time sessions for young children. You can also borrow some story CD’s or audio books.
- Make your own books together with your preschooler. Print out photos, write simple sentences on each page and staple together. Preschoolers love a book about themselves!