Fine motor skills are the building blocks for so many important tasks in a child’s daily life—from holding a pencil and cutting with scissors to buttoning shirts and tying shoes. At Chatterbox Pediatric Therapy, our occupational therapists work closely with children to develop these skills in engaging, age-appropriate ways.
But did you know you can support fine motor development at home with simple and fun activities? Here are some of our favorites:
1. Play Dough Play
Squishing, rolling, and shaping play dough helps build hand strength and coordination. Add small beads or buttons for your child to find and pick out for an extra challenge!
2. Sticker Fun
Peeling and placing stickers is a great way to work on pincer grasp. Try creating sticker scenes or sticker “races” where kids move them from one paper to another.
3. Clothespin Clip Games
Clipping clothespins to the edge of a container builds finger strength and control. Turn it into a matching game by writing letters, numbers, or colors on each pin.
4. Tongs & Tweezers
Let kids use tongs to pick up cotton balls or pom-poms and sort them by color or size. This boosts hand-eye coordination and grip strength.
5. Lacing & Beading
Threading beads or pasta onto string is a great way to improve bilateral coordination. Bonus: it also encourages patience and focus!
These activities are not only effective—they’re also a lot of fun. If you’re ever unsure what skills your child should be working on or want personalized support, our team is here to help!
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