Fine Motor

Fine motor development is vital to every person. Young children gain confidence in their fine motor abilities through experiences, practice and adult scaffolding. Before a child can learn to hold a pencil in the correct manner, they have to be able to explore with dumping and pouring. Dumping and pouring activities such as utilizing cups and containers in a sensory table or even the bathtub, give children a chance to build muscle and control in their wrists, hands and fingers. This muscle control and strength allows them to then become successful in holding writing materials, using scissors, self-help skills such as dressing, putting on shoes, mastering the use of eating utensils, pouring from a small pitcher and more!  Using materials such as play-doh can not only be fun for children and adults alike, it provides a great opportunity for children to use both fine motor and gross motor skills. Heavy pushing, punching, smashing and banging play-doh uses large muscle groups while rolling, pinching, cutting with tools and  sculpting creations uses small muscle groups. The photos below are some examples of the fine motor skills that are being developed in my classroom currently. Each child is in a different place with their fine motor development and my co-teacher and I are intentionally planning provocations to strengthen, improve and provide ways for the children to grow while maintaining our philosophy that children learn best when they feel safe, learn through play and through their individual and group interests. 


This child is VERY interested in dinosaurs. We provided an image of the dinosaur and she used thin markers to recreate the picture. 
Picking up the small mammoth counters provides this child with the chance to build muscle control and practice pincer grasp without even knowing it! 

The use of pipettes is an easy way for children to work on fine motor skills. We simply added them to water with cups of watercolor for children to mix the colors into the sensory table. 

"Look Ms. Rachael! There's a dinosaur in our fence!" A child worked for about 10 minutes to hook the dinosaur into the fence. Not only was he successful, he was VERY proud!

Another example of the use of pipettes. This child used liquid water color first then added oil to explore the changes that occurred. 

Dumping and pouring birdseed in the sensory table. 
Manipulating playdoh is an easy way to develop fine motor skills. 
This child used scissors to cut tissue paper. 




Fine motor is important! Almost any activity in the classroom can be used to help develop these skills.  What are your favorite fine motor activities? Tell me in the comments section! 











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