Hi everyone! Joe and Staci here! Ready for another fun activity?!
Children develop writing skills as their fine motor and visual motor system are developing. Often times awkward pencil grips are the result of a lack of fine motor development. Fine motor activities are quickly disappearing in a world of technology. While screens and video games have a place, it’s important to use our hands/fingers and develop these skills in a 3-dimensional world instead of a 2-dimensional screen. Remember to have your child use his/her hands to develop both eye-hand coordination and small muscles.
Developing two sides of the hand helps with fine motor skills, including holding a pencil or crayon efficiently – a skill needed for development of writing
Here are 5 fine motor activities to help develop the small muscles of the hand, as well as eye-hand coordination.
You can look up more fine motor activities such as these on Pinterest.com.
- Use toothpicks with fruit to make shapes/designs
- Use a small sponge to paint a picture – dip the sponge into cup of water to change colors of paint and squeeze with 3 fingers (the fingers used to hold a pencil).
- Use kitchen tongs/tweezers to pick up various items. – this activity develops the 2 sides of the hand and aids in learning how to use scissors as well
- Use clothespins when practicing spelling words.
- String buttons or beads onto pipe cleaners. Hold the pipecleaner in non-dominant hand and pick up buttons/beads with thumb/index finger of dominant hand.
Let us know if you have any questions or comments! Enjoy your week!