Activities that develop fine motor skills

In early childhood circles you will hear a lot about the importance of developing children’s fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are abilities involving fine movement of the hands and fingers. Fine motor activities, then, are those that engage children’s hands and fingers in small movement tasks. Indeed, there are tons of activities that develop fine motor skills.

Why are fine motor skills so important? For one thing, children who do not have well developed fine motor skills will struggle with learning to write when they get to school. A child who cannot hold a pencil will have a difficult time correctly forming letters.

Further, a child who does not have full control over her finger movements may struggle to dress herself, because buttons and zippers will be too challenging. (This is something my daughter still struggles with.)

Fortunately, there are so many ways we can support the development of fine motor skills. Below I am highlighting seven fun activities that develop fine motor skills from last week’s Kids’ Co-op.

Q-tips and play dough fine motor activity from Mess for Less

Scissors practice princess doll from Lalymom

Playing with stickers from You Clever Monkey

Pony bead crown craft from Where Imagination Grows

Pipe cleaners and a strainer from Mess for Less

Sun craft scissors skills practice from A Little Pinch of Perfect

Tearing paper for a sticky collage from Lalymom