How to Increase the Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills require the use of small muscles in the fingers, hands and wrists usually in coordination with the eyes. We use these skills for a lifetime for such tasks as writing, typing, using eating utensils, buttoning, zipping, buckling etc. The development of fine motor skills starts early in life and takes time and practice on the part of the toddler and patience and understanding on the part of the parent.

There are many developmental toys on the market and they are wonderful teaching aids, but you don't have to spend a lot of money to encourage the development of fine motor skills. On the contrary, many household items and everyday activities promote the use of these small muscles.

Things You'll Need

• Small plastic bucket or cardboard box
• Small colorful toys
• Felt
• Thick paper
• Big crayolas or washable markers
• Large shallow pan
• Cornmeal
• Building blocks
• Large age appropriate puzzles
• Nontoxic modeling clay
• Child safe scissors
• Black board or easel

Show More

Instructions

Toddlers

• 1

  Fill a small plastic bucket or cardboard box with colorful toys like building blocks. Encourage your toddler to empty the container, then put the toys back in.

• 2

  Encourage your toddler to dress and undress large stuffed animals or large dolls. Cut out big ponchos or capes for large stuffed animals and dolls. Use large buttons or Velcro for closures.

• 3

  Tape a large piece of thick paper to a table and provide big sturdy crayons or washable markers in primary colors. Encourage your toddler to draw or scribble. Pour some cornmeal in a large, shallow pan and allow your toddler to draw and scribble in the cornmeal if manipulating crayons or markers seems too daunting.

• 4

  Encourage toddlers to stack blocks.

  Encourage your toddler to stack building blocks or put together puzzles with large, sturdy pieces.

• 5

  Modeling clay improves dexterity.

  Provide nontoxic modeling clay and encourage your toddler to roll it into balls, logs and any other shape imaginable.

• 6

  Building sand castles develops fine motor skills

  Help your toddler build sand castles and make mud pies for outdoor activities.

Preschool Children

• 7

  Supervise your children when they use scissors.

  Draw large shapes on a piece of paper and encourage your preschool child to cut them out with child-safe scissors. Always supervise this activity.

• 8

  Encourage your preschool child to start learning to tie his shoes, button large buttons and zip and unzip a garment.

• 9

  Writing and drawing on an easel helps develop good thumb movements

  Provide a black board or easel or paper-covered wall and encourage your preschool child to draw circles, horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines with first one hand, then the other. Writing and drawing in this position strengthens muscles and helps develop good thumb movements.