Fine motor skills are all about the small movements our kids make with their fingers and hands. These skills might seem small, but they play a huge role in everyday activities like feeding themselves, dressing, writing, and playing. Research shows that practicing these skills through play and everyday tasks helps strengthen the muscles and coordination needed for independence. For example, when a child peels a sticker or strings beads, they’re actually training the same muscles and movements used for buttoning a shirt or holding a pencil.
Experts recommend activities that involve both hands working together, as well as games that build hand strength and precision. Using common household items—like coins, paper, or chalk—can create perfect opportunities to practice these skills. The key is making these activities part of your daily routine, so learning feels natural and fun rather than like a chore.
Why This Matters
Fine motor skills are foundational for your child’s independence and confidence. When kids can feed themselves, dress, or use writing tools, they feel proud and ready to take on new challenges. Supporting these skills early can ease frustration, improve focus, and even boost success at school.
Try This at Home
Here’s a full list of fun and effective activities you can try with your toddler or preschooler to support fine motor development:
1. Peeling and Placing Stickers
Have your child peel stickers off surfaces or their hands and place them inside drawn circles for precision practice.
2. Stringing Cheerios
Use pipe cleaners or strings to thread Cheerios or beads, boosting hand coordination and concentration.
3. Ripping or Crumpling Paper
Create crafts by tearing paper into small pieces—this strengthens hand muscles and encourages using both hands.
4. Placing Coins in a Piggy Bank
Pick up coins and drop them into a slot, improving pincer grasp and visual-motor skills (always supervise).
5. Attach Clothespins to Board Books
Clip clothespins onto books to make “legs,” building hand strength and coordination.
6. Attach Clothespins to Clothing
Clip and remove clothespins from clothes to practice hand opening and closing—great for dressing skills.
7. Classic Sidewalk Chalk
Drawing outside with chalk builds hand strength and coordination, plus it’s a fun way to be creative together.
8. Threading and Lacing
Use laces and beads to encourage both hands working together and focus.
9. Making Putty Figures
Squeeze and sculpt putty to build finger and hand strength.
10. Pick Up Sticks
Play games picking up sticks one by one to improve finger isolation and control.
11. Popping Bubbles
Reach, poke, pinch, or grab bubbles to enhance hand-eye coordination and finger control.
12. Sorting Coins or Beads
Sort items by size or color to develop finger strength and sorting skills.
Fine Motor Precision Activities
13. Mazes
Trace mazes with fingers or pencils to build hand-eye coordination.
14. Perler Beads
Place tiny beads on a pegboard to improve finger control and focus.
15. Cutting on a Line
Practice cutting paper along lines to boost hand strength and coordination.
16. Using Glue on a Target
Apply glue in small spots during crafts to develop control and spatial awareness.
17. Putting Pegs into a Pegboard
Push pegs into holes to strengthen grasp and visual skills.
18. Puzzles
Fit puzzle pieces together to work on problem-solving and fine motor precision.
Fine Motor Strength Activities
19. Using Syringes and Eye Droppers for Art Projects
Squeeze and release to build hand and finger strength.
20. Picking Up Items with Tweezers, Clothespins, or Kitchen Tongs
Practice grasping and transferring small objects to strengthen pincer grip.
21. Using a Hole Puncher for Art Activities
Punch holes in paper to practice strength and precision.
22. Origami
Fold paper into shapes to improve dexterity and coordination.
23. Leaf Rubbings with Crayons
Color over leaves under paper to build hand endurance and pressure control.
24. Making Something Out of Dough (Pizza or Cookies)
Roll, press, and shape dough to strengthen hand muscles.
25. Painting with a Squirt Bottle
Spray water or paint to build grip endurance and have fun.
26. Building Marshmallow Sculptures
Connect marshmallows with toothpicks to encourage careful grasp and creativity.
27. Playing with LEGOs™
Snap bricks together to build strength and spatial awareness.
28. Creating Pictures with a Lite-Brite™
Place small pegs into holes to develop finger precision.
Fine Motor Games for Extra Fun
29. Playing Connect 4™
Drop discs into a grid to build hand-eye coordination.
30. UNO™
Hold, draw, and sort cards to improve finger control.
31. Kerplunk™
Pull sticks and catch marbles to practice bilateral hand use and reflexes.
32. Jenga™
Remove and balance blocks to build steady hands.
33. Operation™
Use tweezers to remove small pieces carefully, sharpening precision.
34. Angry Birds™ Building and Launching Game
Build and launch to strengthen grip and planning skills.
35. Mancala™
Scoop and drop game pieces to strengthen fingers and counting skills.
Try adding these activities little by little into your child’s day, keeping it light, playful, and supportive. Every small step helps their hands grow strong and skilled!
Source: NAPA Center for Pediatric Therapy. (2024). Fine Motor Skills Activities Chosen by Pediatric Therapists.