Fine Motor Activties

In the days of tablets and smartphones, it is very rare that we need to pick up a pencil to write a note or make a list. Because of this, we have noticed that our students are struggling with some basic fine motor skills that allow them to properly hold a pencil or cut with scissors. These are very important skills that we will work on throughout our time in kindergarten, but in order to build the fine motor muscles in their hands that are needed to do these skills, we need your help!!

Below you will find a list of websites and activities that are simple and easy to do at home with your kindergartener. Each website gives ideas that will help your child build up the muscles in their fingers and hands- which will ultimately allow them to better grip and write with a pencil or cut with a pair of scissors. These activities often involve things that you already have at home- arts and craft supplies, stickers, paper and scissors. We encourage you to do a few activities throughout the week (they are FUN and won't seem like extra work for your kiddo), in order to help us better prepare for writing and cutting in the classroom!!

Pencil Grip Video: This is a quick video that shows a simple way to hold a pencil.

**Other tricks that I have seen for holding a pencil- have them grip a pom pom with his other fingers to occupy them, while the thumb and index finger are holding a pencil. 

Great websites for fine motor activities:

Fine Motor Centers: Many of these involve chopsticks or tweezers- both are good for developing fine motor muscles. Most involve products that you can find at home- beads, pom poms, paper strips, pipe cleaners, etc. These would all be simple to set up for your kinder to do on his own. 

Fine Motor/Scissor Skills: More ideas for developing fine motor skills- particularly related to cutting. 

Fine Motor Activities: LOTS of great, and super simple, fine motor activities! This was the best site that I found!

Name Game/Fine Motor: This is a simple activity involving stickers and name practice. You could do this with letters of the alphabet or word wall words!

Fine Motor Activities: Another great site with lots of simple activities involving household objects.

OT Tools: A great list of tools that you can buy (or even may already have) that help with fine motor, straight from an occupational therapist!

More Fine Motor Activities: A list of 40 simple activities to do at home.

Websites for cutting activities:

Cutting Practice: These are good ideas for working on cutting skills. I would start on bigger paper and gradually move to smaller paper.

Scissors and Straws: Ideas for how to use scissors to cut straws and paper to build cutting skills.

5 Simple Cutting Activities

Play-Doh Cutting: A great idea for improving cutting skills by cutting play-doh!

Cutting Skills Worksheets: Links to several cutting worksheets that have a variety of patterns that will help students practice cutting on a line.

More Worksheets: More printables with cutting activities for young students.