FINE MOTOR ACTIVITIES FOR THE HOME

Image retrieved from: https://www.messforless.net/clothespin-math-

preschool-math-activity/

 Why are fine motor skills important? We must have good fine motor skills (refined use,
manipulation, and control of the small muscles in the hand) to perform many daily tasks
and activities, such as: handwriting (holding and controlling the pencil), dressing
(manipulating zippers, buttons, and shoelaces), feeding, coloring, cutting with scissors,
using classroom materials safely and appropriately, playing with small toys, and doing
chores.
 OT’s in the school setting will implement individualized strategies/interventions to
maximize a student’s ability to participate and perform school tasks and activities.
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1. Play Doh: use the thumb, pointer finger, and middle finger to make small balls and create
shapes or animals with the Play Doh (caterpillar, flower, food, etc.).
2. Print a coloring sheet from the internet or use a sheet from a coloring book. Instead of
“coloring” the sheet with coloring utensils, use small buttons to “color” your worksheet.
3. Obtain plastic cups and number them 1-10, place the appropriate number of clothespins on the
cups.
4. Use small magnetic letters to make words on the refrigerator. If you can’t find magnetic
letters at a store, make your own letters, buy magnetic tape, and create your own magnets!
5. Place paper on the refrigerator and ask your child to draw a picture, while standing and using
a small writing utensil (crayon, pencil, marker, chalk, paintbrush). The smaller the writing
utensil, the better!
6. Use magnetic tape to turn an age appropriate puzzle into a magnetic puzzle. Small puzzle
pieces work best, have your child complete the puzzle while standing at the fridge.
7. Grab some small tongs (you can find them at the dollar store, target, amazon, online, and
cooking stores), a cup, and small items of choice (erasers, pom-poms, small balls, Play Doh
balls, etc). Have your child use tongs to place small items into a container.
8. Twist tops off and then screw them back on using water bottles or small tubes (toothpaste,
paint, juice, etc.).
9. Grab a small string and lace noodles, cereal, or beads through string to create bracelets or
necklaces.
10. Play board games that include small pieces that can be manipulated and moved around the
board. *Note, use small pieces if appropriate for the child and if child is not at risk or prone to
placing small objects into mouth.
11. Go into your kitchen and grab a strainer. Have your child place various pipe-cleaners
through strainer holes.
12. Dip small cotton balls into paint and draw a picture.
13. Make cookies and have your child pinch cookie dough and roll into small balls.
14. String small marshmallows or fruit snacks through toothpicks and create letters
15. Hide small toys/figurines in playdough and have your child find all the hidden items
16. Use small side-walk chalk to draw outside (on driveway or side-walk)
17. Take a food container (with a lid), make a small slit on lid, and have your child place/count
small items through slit.
18. Allow your child to become the home’s official “light switcher” to turn light switches on and
off around the house. Instruct child to only use thumb, pointer finger, and middle finger to turn
switches on/off.
19. Use small tweezers to pick up small pom-poms or beads and transfer into a container
20. Make Play Doh balls, stick a straw though the middle of Play Doh ball, and string small
objects through the straw
21. Use cotton-swabs and paint to draw, color, make a painting
22. Make a slit in the middle of a tennis ball and have child hold tennis ball with non-dominant
hand and place small items into the tennis ball with dominant hand. You can make this game fun
by turning the tennis ball into an animal, have your child help you! Use hot-glue/super glue (be
careful!!) to give your tennis ball some fun googly eyes.
23. Go to google.com and type in “fine motor activites”…hundreds of ideas will be at your
disposal!! Many of these activities require use of commonly found house items and some
creativity. Have fun!!!!

Websites with fine motor activity ideas:

 https://theimaginationtree.com/40-fine-motor-skills-activities-for-kids/
 https://www.prekinders.com/fine-motor-skills/
 https://www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/fine-motor-activities.html
 https://www.messforless.net/18-fine-motor-activities-for-preschoolers/
 https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-
disabilities/movement-coordination-issues/8-fun-ways-to-build-fine-motor-skills
 https://www.learning4kids.net/list-of-fine-motor-play-activities/

Worksheet created by Miriam P. Kennetz, MOT/S