*This is a collaborative post.
We all rely on our fine motor skills to do almost everything. Brush your teeth, use your phone, feed yourself. They involve the ability to use the body’s smaller muscles (usually found in the hands and feet) and for picking up, grasping, and holding things.These are children who can start developing from 1 or 2 months old and continue to develop to kindergarten. We have some simple ideas on how to explore fine motor skills with your child.
drum kit
Drumming is a way for children to explore their musical talents while developing their grip. There are also many benefits to practicing music as they can exercise their creativity, express themselves and have fun with it.
Drumming is especially beneficial for SEN children because it combines motor movement with visual and auditory feedback, making it a wonderful sensory activity.
Plasticine
Playdough is a really cute activity for kids. It’s calming, super fun, and great for encouraging creativity. I know my two have enjoyed many hours playing it.
Playdough is great for bringing out these fine motor skills. The use of tools, plastic knives, shaping knives, etc. are all opportunities to practice grasping skills. Also by squeezing and shaping playdough, the little ones are strengthening their grip.
paper chain
Kids love crafting. It gave them the opportunity to create art and completely allowed them to create chaos. When making paper chains, your child will need to cut the paper into strips with scissors and glue them together. These activities will help expand their grip and grasping skills.
rice race
All you need is some raw rice and two bowls. Your child will need to pick up each intricate grain of rice with his fingers and collect them in a bowl. When they get into the cycle of things, you can turn it into a race to see who can fill their bowls the fastest.
bake together
Kids love to imitate their parents, and baking is an activity they can help you with while enjoying some sweet treats. While they may struggle with a few things, you can turn to them for help when mixing ingredients and pouring the mixture into trays and molds. All of these steps encourage the use of grabbing, tool use, and bilateral coordination. Of course don’t forget that kids will find working with food very motivating!
