Fine motor skills are needed for writing and drawing at school. Even as toddlers, children train their fingers without knowing it. The famous pincer grasp, for example, is a start. In many kindergartens, playful exercises are offered so that children can improve more and more. By the time they reach school, it becomes clear whether the child can paint or write well with a pen. What can I do here if that is not the case with my child? We have a few exercises here that improve finger dexterity. Practice a few of the exercises alongside homework, no more than 5-10 minutes, and alternate them.
Exercises for children to improve fine motor skills
Iron-on bead pictures
What you’ll need:
- iron-on beads
- Pegboards
- Parchment paper
- iron
Iron-on beads are excellent for improving fine motor skills. The small beads are already available in various sizes and colors in toy stores, at Ikea, or also at Amazon
Boy or girl: This exercise usually attracts girls; they like the colors and creating patterns. For boys, you can try to buy pegboards in the shapes of vehicles, etc.
Feeling small objects
What you’ll need:
- Small objects: screws or small tool parts, stones, shells, rings, earrings, etc.
- Small box with cloth
- Scarf for blindfolding
Another possibility is to collect very small objects. The child is blindfolded with a scarf and must recognize which objects they are by feeling them. It is important here that they are smaller things that the child knows. Put the objects in a covered box and only give it to the child once they are blindfolded. You are also welcome to swap roles and have the child choose objects for you.
Boy or girl: This exercise can be wonderfully carried out with boys or girls. Here, the objects can be chosen according to interests. For example, boys have to explore small screws, wheels, or small stones. Girls will enjoy feeling small pieces of jewelry, shells, or marbles.
Threading beads
What you’ll need:
- beads
- Strings/nylon wire
Another exercise to improve fine motor skills is threading beads. The beads
Boy or girl: This exercise will appeal more to girls. However, beads are available in all shapes and colors; for boys, perhaps choose vehicles.
Laying out letters with glass nuggets/muggle stones
What you’ll need:
- Glass nuggets/muggle stones
- possibly paper
- possibly pens
In this exercise, the child should lay out the small glass nuggets in the shape of letters. Glass nuggets/muggle stones
Boy or girl: This exercise is suitable for boys and girls. For the shapes, interesting objects can be wonderfully found for boys and girls. For example, a necklace or a flower can be designed for a girl next to the letters. For boys, it will more likely be vehicles or a ball.
Laying/gluing wool
What you’ll need:
- Wool
- Scissors
- Paper
- Glue
A great exercise is to let the children work with Wool
Boy or girl: This exercise can be interesting for both children. Try to find shapes here that interest your child. For boys, it can also be a dragon that needs hair, or for a girl, the princess needs beautiful long hair.
Forming cotton balls
What you’ll need:
- Cotton wool
- possibly paper
- possibly glue
- possibly pens
To improve fine motor skills, this exercise with cotton wool is very suitable. Provide the child with Cotton wool
Boy or girl: This exercise is interesting for both girls and boys. When gluing, you can pre-draw various shapes, e.g., a tractor or a castle, depending on the child's interest.
Turning screws
What you’ll need:
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Wooden board
Turning small screws is very good for finger dexterity. Prepare a board, as well as various Screws
Boy or girl: This exercise is perhaps more interesting for boys. They usually love it when they are allowed to handle tools – especially real tools from their parents.
Writing air letters
In this exercise, the child should trace letters in the air. Best with both hands and getting smaller and smaller. If the child is already in school, simply choose the letters they are already learning or currently learning. Anyone who wants to can also write their own name, or that of friends. This exercise is ideal when you are on the go and perhaps have to wait somewhere.
Boy or girl: This exercise is interesting for both girls and boys.
Tracing signs
What you’ll need:
- Paper
- pen
Finally, of course, a writing exercise to improve fine motor skills. Here, pre-draw signs on a sheet of paper for the child and let them trace them. If the signs get better and better, then let them draw these signs themselves next to them. For the signs, you can choose both letters or other shapes that are similar to letters. For example, instead of a big O, you can draw an 'orange' or a 'tire'.
Boy or girl: This exercise is useful for girls and boys.
Painting and drawing
What you’ll need:
- Large drawing pad
- Colored pencils, watercolors, oil pastels, etc.
Children love working on the floor. With this trick, even painting-muffins can usually be convinced. From my own experience, it worked great. Use very large sheets of paper and many colored pencils. To protect the floor, simply spread out a large plastic tablecloth or lay out newspaper. We tried this at home with oil pastels and it was really a lot of fun. Just let the child paint away, and in doing so, they practice becoming more confident with a pen 'on the side'.
Boy or girl: This exercise is fun for girls and boys.
Do you also have ideas for exercises to improve fine motor skills? Then write to me or post a comment!
Also read: Learning with your child
Photos by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
