Many of your child鈥檚 daily activities鈥攍ike getting dressed, eating, and writing鈥攔equire control of small muscles in the hands. We call these skills fine motor skills. Your child can do more things for himself when he has opportunities to practice these skills. There are lots of activities that can increase muscle strength and coordination, preparing children for more advanced skills, from writing with a pencil, using a computer mouse, or playing a musical instrument. Help your child build fine motor skills at home by providing opportunities to...
Set the table
Hold knives, forks, and spoons to eat
Pour juice into a cup
Wipe the table with a sponge
Help with meals鈥攕tir, shake, chop, cut, and mix
Get dressed鈥攂utton, zip, snap, buckle, and fasten
Use Velcro tabs
Open and close containers with lids
Cut with child-safe scissors
Finger paint
Use a paintbrush
Play with playdough and clay鈥攔oll, smoosh, pat, pound, and use tools like popsicle sticks or stamps
Draw, scribble, or write with crayons, pencils, and markers
Put together puzzles
Place pegs in a board
Build with small blocks
Play board games
Play with puppets
Source: Adapted from "Getting a Grip on Things: Building Fine Motor Skills,鈥� Message in a Backpack, 2010,听Teaching Young Children听3 (5): 26鈥�28.
