The Benefits of Fine Motor Skills in Early Education

Editor’s note: This text-based course is an edited transcript of the webinar, The Benefits of Fine Motor Skills in Early Education, presented by Jamie Cruz, MOT, OTR/L, and Emily Dassow, BS, OTR/​​​​​​L.

Learning Outcomes

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify how fine motor development impacts school readiness.
• Define a variety of fine motor skill areas.
• Recognize the benefits of activities that use common early childhood education toys and supplies.

Research and Theory

Exploring the development of fine motor skills reveals a fascinating link to school readiness and performance. Evidence increasingly suggests that both fine and gross motor abilities play a pivotal role in shaping children's cognitive and academic skills. Among various studies, certain findings stand out for their insight into this dynamic.

For instance, one study established a connection between fine motor dexterity and the use of finger-based number representations. This means that the ability to isolate two fingers to represent the number "two" or show all five fingers for "five" is not just a physical action but correlates with numerical skills that are crucial for academic success (Fischer et al., 2020).

Moreover, engaging preschoolers in activities like placing coins into piggy banks, threading beads, and drawing has been linked to enhanced reading performance in their first school year (Contreras Jordán & Infantes-Paniagua, 2021). This connection underscores the importance of hands-on learning in early education.

Additionally, research has found that fine and gross motor skills are associated with cognitive functions critical for math and reading comprehension success (Geertsen et al., 2016). Another significant study highlighted that children with motor coordination impairments often face lower pre-academic skills, putting them at a disadvantage at the onset of formal education (Michel et al., 2011).

These insights underscore the critical importance of nurturing fine motor skills from an early age, both in educational settings and at home. By providing children with opportunities to develop these skills through targeted activities, adults can play a crucial role in preparing them for future academic challenges. This approach supports motor skill development and lays a foundation for school readiness, affirming the profound impact of early motor skill enhancement on educational trajectories.

What are Fine Motor Skills?

Let's delve into the intricacies of fine motor skills, a crucial aspect of occupational therapy. Fine motor coordination, a term central to our discussion, pertains to the synchronized movements of fingers and hands. When we scrutinize fine motor precision, we focus on specific hand movements to achieve precise goals. For instance, threading a needle exemplifies fine motor precision.

Moreover, dexterity involves executing swift and accurately coordinated hand movements for daily tasks such as tying shoelaces or zipping zippers. These three domains encapsulate the essence of fine motor skills. However, beyond these divisions lies a fundamental principle: "Proximal stability provides distal mobility." In essence, the stability of core and postural muscles facilitates the development of fine motor skills in peripheral areas.

Considering this, attention to seating and positioning becomes imperative during activities. While children are doing activities, can they sit properly in the chair? Do they have shoulder stability? Do they have wrist extension and stability? A slightly extended wrist or neutral wrist allows for a functional grasp and optimal position of the fingers in opposition to the thumb. Wrist stability enables the fingers to manipulate objects without the wrist moving around. Proper support ensures stability in joints, which is crucial for fine motor tasks. 

After those muscles are developed, we can focus on the intrinsic hand muscles, the little teeny hand muscles inside your palm and fingers. Additionally, achieving milestones like crawling strengthens core and hand muscles, laying the foundation for fine motor skills.

Grip/Grasp Patterns and Hand Strength

As children transition into the toddler and preschool age, we observe a spectrum of grip patterns emerging, each indicative of developmental progress. Occupational therapists meticulously analyze these subtle changes in grip, which serve as critical indicators of fine motor development. Among the primary grip patterns observed, the pincer grasp stands out prominently. Toddlers adeptly utilize their index finger and thumb to pinch and grasp objects, exemplified in Figure 1 where a child grasps a coin or small puffs for self-feeding.

Figure 1. Pincer grasp. (Source: presenter photo)

Another significant grip pattern is the lateral pinch, characterized by the convergence of the middle of the index finger and the thumb, akin to holding a key, as seen in Figure 2. Unlike the pincer grasp, the lateral pinch utilizes the sides rather than the tips of the index finger.

Figure 2. Lateral pinch. (Source: presenter photo)

Conversely, the hook grasp, seen in Figure 3, involves the flexion of the upper fingers without thumb involvement, which is ideal for tasks like lifting a bucket or gripping a rope with the fingertips.

Figure 3. Hook grasp. (Source: presenter photo)

Moving on, the spherical grasp entails enveloping a spherical object with the entire hand, necessitating the spread of fingers to create a webbed space, as depicted in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Spherical grasp. (Source: presenter photo)

These varied grip patterns underscore the multifaceted nature of fine motor development assessment in children.

As children progress towards more refined grasp patterns, attention shifts towards pencil-holding techniques. Initially, children employ the cylindrical/gross/palmar grasp, seen in Figure 5, wherein the entire fist wraps around an object, commonly observed during early crayon and marker use.

Figure 5. Cylindrical/gross/palmar grasp. (Source: presenter photo)

Around ages three to four, children begin transitioning to more mature grasp patterns.

The tripod grasp, seen in Figure 6, epitomizes a mature pencil grip, offering stability and control.

Figure 6. Tripod grip. (Source: presenter photo)

Additionally, adapted tripod grips, like the one in Figure 7, where the writing utensil rests between the index and middle fingers, provide a comfortable alternative, alleviating finger strain.

Figure 7. Adapted tripod grasp. (Source: presenter photo)

Similarly, the quadrupod grasp, seen in Figure 8, incorporates the middle finger for enhanced stability, ensuring optimal pencil control.

Figure 8. Quadrupod grasp. (Source: presenter photo)

These diverse grasp patterns represent significant milestones in children's fine motor development, guiding occupational therapists in tailoring interventions to foster motor proficiency and readiness for academic endeavors.

Specific Skill Areas of Fine Motor Skills

Bilateral Coordination

You might hear therapists or other professionals discussing additional types of fine motor skills. These include specific abilities such as finger isolation, which entails the ability to independently move the pointer finger, a skill crucial for tasks like numerical digit representation mentioned previously. Another vital skill is finger-to-thumb opposition, where one can bring the finger's pad to the thumb's pad, facilitating precise movements and grasping actions.

Furthermore, hand separation is significant in fine motor development. This concept, exemplified humorously by the "Nanu Nanu" gesture from the show Mork and Mindy, illustrates the division of the hand into a power side and a stabilizing side. In activities like writing with a tripod grasp, the stabilizing portion of the hand is tucked into the palm and resting on the surface of the paper, remaining grounded, while the power side manipulates writing utensils, emphasizing the importance of hand separation for tasks such as writing, cutting, and in-hand manipulation.

Hand separation correlates with palmar arch development, which refers to the cup-like shape formed in the palm when holding objects. The palmar arch can be seen when holding dice or other small items in your hand. Palmar arches are pivotal in various fine motor skills and are strengthened through activities like crawling and weight-bearing on all fours.

Occupational therapists focus on several key areas that serve as foundations for advanced skills, including bilateral coordination. Bilateral coordination involves the synchronized use of both hands, either simultaneously or with one hand stabilizing while the other manipulates. Activities like clapping (symmetrical movement) or cutting (dominant hand manipulation, supporting hand stabilization) highlight the importance of coordinated bilateral movements in everyday tasks such as zipping zippers or buttoning buttons, where successful outcomes depend on the harmonious interaction of both sides of the body.

Visual Motor Skills/Eye-Hand Coordination

We also examine visual motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which involve integrating visual input with motor responses. These skills come into play during activities such as ball games or tasks that require copying or imitating pencil strokes. For instance, when observing a downward line, individuals with well-developed visual motor skills and hand-eye coordination can accurately replicate the movement with their hand, coordinating it in the correct direction.

In-Hand Manipulation Skills

Translation

Translation can be either simple or complex. Simple translation involves moving one object at a time. For instance, taking a single coin from the palm and transferring it to the fingertip. Now, to increase the difficulty of this activity, we can introduce complex translation. In this case, the individual must stabilize multiple coins in their hand using the stabilizing side, while the power side is responsible for moving the coin out. This challenges the coordination and dexterity of the hand. It's common to observe children initially attempting to stabilize using their chest or dropping coins altogether, indicating the need for further development in fine motor skills.

Shifting

Shifting refers to the action of moving an object linearly using the fingertips. This skill is commonly observed when using a pencil, where individuals make adjustments in their grasp by shifting the pencil. Additionally, shifting is crucial when stringing beads, as it involves pushing the lace forward through the bead. This ability requires precise control and coordination of the fingertips to manipulate objects effectively.

Rotation

Rotation involves both simple and complex movements. Simple rotation occurs when an object is moved between the fingertips and thumbs, such as opening a screw-top lid or sprinkling toppings onto a cookie. On the other hand, complex rotation involves turning an object end for end. An example of complex rotation is when using a pencil for erasing, where the pencil is flipped over to switch between the writing tip and the eraser end. During erasing, individuals often perform complex rotation and shifting movements to achieve the desired action effectively.

Sensory Processing Skills

Proprioception relates to body awareness and muscle control and is crucial in motor development. It enables us to sense and adjust the force we apply during movement. Tactile perception, on the other hand, involves our sense of touch and is particularly vital for fine motor skills. Without accurate tactile feedback, tasks like tying shoelaces with gloves on become challenging. Visual perception, referring to our ability to interpret visual information, is indispensable for fine motor activities. Impaired visual processing can significantly impede motor tasks, necessitating greater reliance on tactile feedback. Lastly, the vestibular system, located in the inner ear, detects head positions relative to gravity and contributes to balance, coordination, and postural control by providing information about our spatial orientation and movement direction. If you're interested in exploring these concepts further, consider enrolling in our course "Sensory Processing for Early Education," also on Continued ECE.

Before we delve into our fine motor classroom activities, I'd like to invite you to take a moment to gather a pencil, some coins, and perhaps even a pair of gloves if available. Take a few minutes to engage in the in-hand manipulation skills we discussed earlier, doing some activities with gloves off and some with gloves on. Challenge yourself by trying these tasks with both your dominant and non-dominant hands. Notice how these different scenarios test your fine motor skills, including precision, dexterity, speed, and comfort level. When you're ready, come back, and we'll explore some common activities you might find in your classroom or home visit settings.

Fine Motor Classroom Activities and Their Benefits

We'll be discussing these activities from the perspective of an occupational therapist. We aim for you to gain insights into how to incorporate these activities into your classroom or home visits to enhance fine motor skill development. We'll explore ways to maximize the use of resources you likely already have on hand, ensuring optimal development of foundational skills for the children in your care.

Beads

Ideas for using beads:

• Hide beads in sensory bins or putty for collecting - place in small container 
• Use a pipe cleaner or dowel if a string is too challenging while lacing
• Longer beads are more challenging than narrow beads to lace - shifting required
• Use Scotch tape on the ends of string if child is having a hard time poking it through bead
• Push beads into playdough
• Sort beads by color, shape, texture 

Benefits:

• Bilateral hand skills
• Strengthening 
• Pincer grasp 
• Visual motor control to align beads 
• In-hand manipulation skills (translation, shifting, rotating) 

When using beads for fine motor activities, it's important to consider the aglet of the lace, which can affect the difficulty of threading beads. An aglet is the hard piece at the end of a lace. A longer aglet makes threading easier, while a shorter one increases the challenge. Additionally, the size of the bead hole also impacts the difficulty level, with larger holes being easier to thread. It takes a lot more shifting skill to thread the lace through a longer bead with a shorter aglet than it does with a short bead with a long aglet. If you end up with a lace that doesn't have a great end to it, you can wrap a little Scotch tape around the end to create an aglet, making it shorter or longer, depending on what the child needs.

You can vary the activity by using different materials for threading, such as pipe cleaners or dowels. Other activities include sorting beads by color, shape, or texture and threading them onto different types of laces. You can also incorporate beads into sensory play by embedding them in playdough or using them in a sensory bin. This helps work on bilateral hand skills and strengthening. You can facilitate the pincer grasp by holding the bead or holding the lace. Visual motor control is used to align the bead directly to the hole.

These activities target bilateral hand skills, strengthening, pincher grasp, eye-hand coordination, and in-hand manipulation. Start with larger holes and gradually progress to smaller ones based on the children's age and abilities. Encourage them to practice simple translation, shifting, and rotation while threading beads. Overall, investing in beads can provide children with a wide range of fine motor skill development opportunities.

Scissors

Tips for teaching cutting:

• Sit behind the child if providing physical assistance
• Begin with snipping by cutting small scraps of paper or skinny strips of paper to work on just opening and closing scissors 
• Make left-handed scissors available
• Snip snakes of playdough for added sensory input 

Benefits:

• Develops hand muscles – palmar arch
• Visual motor skills to follow lines
• Hand strength
• Bilateral coordination to rotate paper 
• Sensory processing to grade force with proprioception

Let's discuss scissors. Early exposure to scissors is crucial for children. Personally, I begin introducing them around age two, sometimes even earlier. Many children may not yet have the motor skills to operate scissors with one hand, but understanding the concept of opening and closing them with two hands is beneficial. This helps develop bilateral skills. Safety is also a key aspect we teach alongside using scissors. They are a valuable tool for enhancing palmar arches, strengthening hand muscles, and improving visual motor skills.

One important tip is to consider a child's arm positioning. If a child struggles and ends up cutting with their arms raised due to lack of shoulder or trunk stability, sitting behind them can provide the necessary support. This positioning allows for better guidance and stability, enabling the child to focus solely on using the scissors effectively. Additionally, sitting behind the child offers better body mechanics for the adult assisting them. Reaching across the table can be awkward, especially when trying to assist with the opposite hand.

Developmentally, start with simple tasks such as snipping small paper scraps or thin strips of paper. Experiment with cutting different materials, like grass, to engage both hands. If a child shows a preference for their left hand, providing left-handed scissors can significantly improve their experience. Using the correct type of scissors is crucial, as cutting left-handed with right-handed scissors can be challenging.

And it's worth noting that left-handed scissors are truly different from their right-handed counterparts. The blades are reversed, offering a better visual and tactile experience for left-handed users. As someone who is ambidextrous, I've noticed that observing which hand a child uses to reach out for objects can indicate their dominant hand.

Another activity we enjoy is cutting Play-Doh and shaping it into snakes, which provides tactile input and improves fine motor coordination as they roll the Play-Doh. Additionally, cutting up junk mail or scraps of paper can be a fun and practical way to engage children with scissors. We've even used the cut scraps to create art on contact paper.

Introducing scissors early is crucial, allowing children to develop the necessary skills and confidence. Waiting until kindergarten may leave them feeling unprepared for the independence expected in today's classrooms. Plus, starting early allows them to learn proper handling and safety measures with one-on-one support. When considering materials for cutting, keep in mind the weight of the paper, as it can affect the cutting experience.

The weight of the paper greatly affects its stability. Jamie shared a clever idea where someone used a hole puncher to create a line of holes in card stock or construction paper, providing a target line for cutting. This reduces the challenge of cutting through the paper, as the scissors only need to navigate the spaces between the holes. Copy paper, on the other hand, poses more difficulties for novice cutters due to its thinness and lack of stability.

If a child struggles with opening the scissors or controlling their pressure, wrapping rubber bands around the scissors can help. This keeps the scissors slightly open, providing better control and encouraging a more controlled cutting motion. Additionally, prompting children to make small "ant bites" rather than large "alligator chomps" encourages them to cut more delicately and precisely.

Ultimately, it's best not to close the scissor blades completely when cutting. Leaving a small gap between the blades before making the next cut actually improves accuracy. The rubber band trick helps prevent the blades from closing all the way, eliminating the need to start each cut directly on the line. This technique promotes smoother cutting and enhances precision over time.

Peg Boards

Ideas for using pegboards:

• Create letters
• Create shapes
• Stack pegs
• Sort colors of pegs
• Poke finger through peg holes
• Hide pegs in a sensory bin prior to placing them

Benefits:

• Dexterity skills
• Precision to align and place in hole
• Visual attention 
• Pincer grasp 
• Complex rotation

Figure 9. Placing golf tees into a pegboard. (Source: presenter photo)

Peg boards are likely a familiar sight in your classrooms. They come in various shapes and sizes, offering diverse challenges. In Figure 9, you'll see one of the more complex versions with golf tees on a hardware store board. You can use peg boards for letter and shape creation, stacking pegs by color or size, and even drawing shapes on smaller boards with a dry-erase marker. Introducing complexity, such as intentionally handing pegs with the wrong side forward, prompts children to rotate them before placing them in holes, enhancing fine motor skills subtly. This also helps them practice complex rotation as they rotate the peg over before placing it into the hole. Additionally, these activities help develop visual attention, particularly in challenging tasks where children may become less attentive. As they work on their pincer grasp, precision, and dexterity, you might notice them circling around the hole before successfully inserting the peg.

Playdough, Putty, Clay, Floam, etc.

Ideas for using playdough, putty, clay, floam, etc.: 

• Roll snakes and balls 
• Pound playdough balls with hammers 
• Press dough “clothes” on figurines (see picture)
• Sculpt bowls and cups for stuffed animals  
• Hide beads in putty to pull out or press in
• Use rolling pins/cookie cutters or cookie stamps
• Pretend cooking with kitchen utensils 
• Poke straws, sticks into playdough (birthday cakes)
• Various playdough toys – presses, molds, syringes 

Benefits:

• Sensory processing skills - proprioception and tactile skills 
• Fine motor coordination of fingers 
• Dexterity and precision 
• Visual motor skills
• Praxis skills for imitation 
• Bilateral coordination of hands working together
• Utensil use (practice cutting with knife, carrying with spoon, stabbing with fork)
• Resistance from putty improves intrinsic hand muscle strength
• Develops pincer grasp
• Works on visual skills to locate beads
• Works on tactile skills to feel bumps and difference in texture 
• Proprioceptive skills to grade force for pulling and picking 

Playdough, putty, clay, and foam are fantastic sensory tools for tactile development, but they offer much more than just sensory input. With putty, for instance, varying firmness levels exist, from soft to extra firm, with softer putty being easier for younger children to manipulate. Activities like rolling snakes or balls challenge bilateral skills and proprioception, teaching children to gauge pressure. Many children will begin by rubbing lightly like they're rubbing a feather. Letting them know they have to push harder helps them develop the sense of pressure they're putting on something. You can roll the playdough for those who struggle with ball rolling and introduce hammers for smashing targets, a hit among many kids.

Figure 10. Using play dough to make clothes for small dolls. (Source: Pexels)

Another creative use involves dressing figurines with playdough, as seen in Figure 10, fostering fine motor skills, such as the pincer grasp and sensory processing. Sculpting bowls or cups for toys encourages thumb isolation and manipulation. Kitchen utensils, straws, or toothpicks inserted into playdough aid in making pretend cakes and honing in-hand manipulation. Additionally, a wealth of playdough toys like rolling pins, cookie cutters, presses, molds, and syringes can be rotated for novelty.

Homemade playdough recipes offer control over ingredients, ideal for children with specific allergies. Keep in mind that Play-Doh brand playdough does have gluten in it. So, if you have children with severe gluten allergies, they should not be using Play-Doh brand playdough. Clays, foams, and floams, though more challenging to make, provide additional tactile experiences, such as the unique texture of floam with its styrofoam balls. Floam is like a slime with little styrofoam balls, providing a nice tactile experience. These materials offer endless sensory and fine motor development opportunities, enriching classroom experiences.

The benefits of using playdough and putty extend far beyond sensory development. They provide a rich opportunity to enhance bilateral coordination, refine dexterity and precision, and practice utensil use. In particular, utensil skills like using forks, spoons, and knives can be seamlessly integrated into playdough activities. Children can practice stabbing with forks, scooping with spoons, and cutting with knives, offering a fun and effective way to encourage utensil use. For hesitant eaters who prefer finger-feeding, playdough is an excellent platform to practice utensil skills in a stress-free environment. Introducing knife use, for instance, becomes simple with a plastic knife and a mound of playdough, allowing children to explore safely and comfortably.

Blocks

Ideas for using blocks:

• Block design copy games
• Creative play-making zoos, farms, houses, castles with figurines
• Stacking for balance 
• Set up tall blocks for bowling games (fine or gross motor bowling)
• Set up on trays for drawing mazes 
• Trace blocks to create puzzles 
• Match and sort shapes/colors/sizes 
• Use blocks of different textures, weights and sizes

Benefits:

• Sensory processing of proprioception/visual and tactile skill development
• Motor planning and problem solving 
• Fine motor precision to stack towers 
• Pincer grasp with smaller blocks 
• Develops visual perceptual skills 
• Grading force for placement 
• Bilateral hand skills
• Shoulder stability and motor control (especially with heavy or large blocks)

When considering blocks in your classroom, it's essential to recognize their varied sizes, from the tiniest to those as large as the children themselves. I've had experience working with blocks of all sizes, tailoring the choice to the specific skills and developmental goals being targeted. Block design copy games, for instance, are fantastic for enhancing visual skills and grading force, particularly when constructing towers requiring finesse and control to stack blocks accurately. In such games, I prefer to have two identical sets of blocks available, ensuring that children have a visual reference for the design they're tasked with replicating. This setup proves especially beneficial for younger children engaging in structured design copy activities.

The possibilities with blocks are endless. Currently, my son enjoys using Lincoln Logs and classic Playskool blocks to construct zoos, farms, houses, and castles. Through these creations, he learns to stack blocks carefully, demonstrating structural integrity in his buildings. Moreover, block play fosters socialization skills as children collaborate with peers, learn to share space, and respect each other's creations. However, challenges may arise, particularly for children struggling with impulse control or respecting others' work. Larger blocks, in particular, offer significant benefits by promoting bilateral skills and upper body strengthening. Blocks measuring around two and a half feet tall and 12 by 12 inches are particularly effective in this regard.

Using big foam blocks is particularly beneficial as it engages children's entire upper body, including their shoulder and back muscles, when lifting and moving the blocks. These blocks can serve multiple purposes, such as acting as bowling pins for tricycle games or forming obstacles for animal walks. They can also be arranged on the floor to create mazes or pathways for toy cars or tricycles to navigate. Placing blocks on paper allows for the creation of letters or mazes to trace once the blocks are removed, adding an extra dimension to the activity.

Furthermore, blocks are versatile tools for sorting activities based on shape, color, or size, providing opportunities for cognitive development. Considering the textures and weights of the blocks adds a sensory component to play, with heavier blocks offering greater strengthening benefits and proprioceptive input. Overall, block play fosters early mathematical skills, spatial reasoning, and geometrical concepts, making it a valuable academic tool with numerous learning possibilities.

Block play is more than just fun; it's a powerful tool for developing early mathematical skills, spatial awareness, and an understanding of geometrical concepts. These simple shapes can transform into an essential academic resource, facilitating counting, manipulation, and a variety of learning activities.

In kindergarten, educators frequently rely on blocks to introduce basic arithmetic, such as addition and subtraction. Mastery in handling these blocks can significantly enhance a child's mathematical understanding.

We've touched on the multifaceted benefits of block play, including sensory processing, fine motor development, and the cultivation of visual skills. Blocks require children to use both hands in unison, promoting proximal stability and the nuanced control of force. This diverse range of advantages highlights the invaluable role of blocks in early childhood education, underpinning their significance beyond mere playthings.

Coloring, Painting, and Tracing

Ideas for coloring, painting and tracing:

• Use broken crayons to promote tripod grasp use (2-3 inches long)
• Shaving cream - use finger or brushes to practice shapes/letters/prewriting strokes 
• Dot art markers for stamping 
• Color on underside of tables
• Use vertical planes (walls, doors, windows, & easels)
• Hand and foot print tracing
• Use textured fingerpaints
• Use food for fingerpaints
• Children lay down and trace each other’s body outlines on butcher paper 
• Make wall mazes and roads
• Use stencils
• Chalk on sidewalk
• Use LED tablets or light boards to trace 

Benefits:

• Working on visual attention 
• Develops mature grasp of utensils
• Sensory processing skills of tactile, visual and proprioceptive skills 
• Visual motor skills to produce a variety of strokes 
• Prepares children for writing
• Hand strength and coordination of muscles 
• Shoulder and wrist stability - especially on vertical surfaces or slanted surfaces
• Visual motor control and fluidity

Coloring, painting, and tracing are staples in early childhood education, offering a myriad of developmental benefits. While these activities may seem routine, occupational therapists often employ specific techniques to optimize skill development.

One unconventional method involves breaking crayons into shorter pieces, typically two or three inches long. While this may elicit some resistance from educators, it actually promotes the development of a tripod grasp, essential for proper pencil control. By reducing the size of the crayon, children are encouraged to hold it correctly, fostering the dexterity needed for writing.

For sensory exploration, shaving cream provides a versatile medium. If children aren't yet comfortable using their fingers to trace lines, brushes or other tools can be offered as alternatives. Dot art markers offer another engaging option, requiring rotational movement to stamp different patterns or targets.

An innovative approach involves coloring on the underside of tables. Taping paper beneath the surface and inviting children to lie on their backs while coloring enhances shoulder stability and promotes proximal strength. The unique perspective also captures children's visual attention, making it an effective and novel learning experience.

Hand and footprint tracing is an excellent way to develop bilateral skills in children. Another creative approach involves using food items as finger paints, which is particularly beneficial for younger children who explore the world through mouthing objects. This sensory experience encourages visual attention and helps children understand that their movements create visible lines. This can also be accomplished by putting pudding on the table and letting children scribble and make lines in the pudding. Textured finger paint, such as those mixed with cornmeal or rice, adds an extra dimension to the activity. To avoid overwhelming sensory input, consider containing the mixture in a sealed plastic bag, allowing children to feel the texture without the mess. Providing towels and wipes nearby ensures easy cleanup and empowers children to return to the activity at their own pace.

Stencils and sidewalk chalk offer additional opportunities for artistic expression and fine motor development. For a modern twist, LED tablets provide a captivating visual element that encourages prolonged engagement. Placing paper over the illuminated surface allows children to trace shapes and patterns with heightened focus and motivation.

Cardboard boxes offer a versatile canvas for coloring, painting, and tracing activities, particularly appealing to active youngsters who may resist traditional seated tasks. Providing markers and encouraging children to decorate the box or search for shapes drawn on its surface can spark creativity and engagement.

In outdoor settings, sidewalk chalk provides endless opportunities for artistic exploration. Beyond drawing, incorporating spray bottles or paint rollers with water adds an interactive dimension, allowing children to erase their creations or blend colors in a novel and enjoyable way. Moreover, involving children in tasks such as washing tables with paint rollers not only strengthens their hand muscles by using the cylindrical grasp on the handles but also fosters a sense of responsibility and independence.

The activities we've discussed are instrumental in developing pre-writing skills. Children hone hand and finger coordination and shoulder and wrist stability by engaging in coloring, painting, tracing, and other fine motor tasks. These activities also contribute to refining visual skills essential for later writing tasks.

Stickers

Ideas for using stickers:

• Place stickers to lines or targets
• Smaller stickers facilitate pincer grasp and finger isolation
• Follow directions tasks - put the green sticker on the yellow square
• Create a “scene” using stickers
• Sort and match stickers
• Use vertical plane 
• Child prone over ball or chair - stickers on floor/paper on wall

Benefits:

• Bilateral hand skills to stabilize paper/fold paper and peel with opposite hand 
• Sensory processing skills (proprioception) to grade force for pull
• Dexterity and precision to hold the small edge of sticker and peel
• Wrist mobility to turn stickers over sticky side down    
• Visual attention and motor skills - especially if sticking onto targets on paper 

Stickers are a fantastic resource hidden in your classroom, and they are excellent for enhancing fine motor dexterity. The challenge varies with size: smaller stickers demand precise finger movements, while larger ones test patience, as eager hands may tear them. Understanding each child's abilities is key. Stickers also excel in activities aimed at following directions. For instance, instructing a child to place a green sticker on a yellow square sharpens their ability to follow specific instructions. Encouraging children to target stickers on paper and then circle them with a crayon integrates visual-motor skills essential for drawing and writing.

Creating scenes with stickers can spark imaginative play and support speech and language development. Incorporating physical challenges, such as having a child lie over a ball or chair to reach for stickers on the ground and place them on a nearby wall, fosters core stability alongside finger dexterity. This activity also emphasizes bilateral coordination, as one hand holds the sheet while the other peels the sticker, and proprioceptive feedback, crucial for applying the appropriate amount of force.

As children engage with stickers, they navigate the task's complexity based on their age and skill level. Younger children may aim for larger targets, like a sizeable gumball machine illustration, whereas older children could be challenged to cover a small dot precisely. This gradation allows for tailored difficulty levels, making the activity suitable for various developmental stages.

Moreover, using stickers demands significant wrist mobility—peeling them off and ensuring they stick adhesive-side down, a task that often sees stickers end up on fingertips instead. This process not only works the wrists but also sharpens visual attention and motor skills, underlining the multifaceted benefits of this seemingly simple tool.

Tongs

Ideas for using tongs:

• Place objects on the back of suction cup bath mats
• Transfer objects from point A to point B
• Sort objects by color, size, shape, etc.
• Puzzles with knobs 
• Use pom poms, balls, cotton balls, Legos, blocks, small manipulatives, beads, marbles

Benefits:

• Hand strength
• Palm arch development 
• Visual attention 
• Sensory processing: proprioceptive and tactile to keep tongs closed while moving to cup
• Helps develop grasping skills 
• Visual skills for placing on targets or into containers (smaller target, more challenge)

Tongs, in their various forms, are an excellent tool for developing fine motor skills and introducing young children to the basics of scissor use. Consider the range available, from tweezer-like tongs to more specialized designs like the snow baller—a favorite of ours. Despite its intended use for creating snowballs, we've found it to be incredibly versatile, especially in sunny Los Angeles, where snow is a rarity, though we did experience some this season. These tongs can be a game-changer for younger children who haven't mastered precision. They can easily grasp objects of various sizes, from small plastic balls to rocks and cotton balls, allowing them to practice transferring items from one point to another. This activity not only enhances their grip and control but also sets the foundational skills necessary for scissor handling later on.

The innovative use of simple household items, like a bath mat, can further extend the utility of tongs in therapeutic settings. Emily introduced me to this brilliant idea while we were working together in a clinic. She had children use smaller tongs to pick up marbles and place them onto a suction cup bath mat, as seen in Figure 11. This task, which might seem simple at first glance, significantly aids in developing fine motor skills and precision, demonstrating the creativity and versatility required in occupational therapy to make learning engaging and effective.

Figure 11. Marbles on a mat with suction cups. (Source: presenter photo)

Incorporating another fine motor skill, such as rolling a dice in cupped hands, can enhance the therapeutic benefits of using tongs. For instance, if you have matching mats—let's say 10 to 12 of them—you can roll a dice and place the corresponding number of items onto the mat. It's a race to fill up the mat, with the first one completed being the winner.

When it comes to selecting tongs, there's a wide array of options to consider. Strawberry huller tongs, olive pickers, or even kitchen tongs used for barbecues can serve the purpose well. The size and design of the tong will influence the activity and the skills being developed. For example, larger tongs promote palmar arch development, while tweezers facilitate fine motor skills.

If a bath mat isn't available, consider using fidget poppers, which are about the size of marbles and can serve as targets for tongs. Additionally, puzzles with knobs offer another opportunity for tongs to be utilized. By using tongs in various activities, you're not only fostering palmar arch development but also improving visual attention, grasp skills, and visual motor coordination. Plus, these activities can be adapted for different age groups, making them versatile tools in occupational therapy sessions.

Gluing - Bottles and Sticks

Activities with glue and glue sticks:

• Glue down nature items (flower petals/grass)
• Glue popsicle sticks (picture frames)
• Glue cotton balls, Qtips, pom poms 
• Glue different ingredients from pantry to cardboard (lentils, rice, pasta, cereal, corn meal, sprinkles, sugar)
• Rip colored paper and create a collage
• Paint glue on surface with brush
• Trace glue over shapes and letters 

Benefits:

• Hand strength - squeezing bottles 
• Sensory - tactile, proprioceptive
• Visual of how much is enough 
• Proprioceptive - how much to squeeze
• Multi-step task - motor planning 

For glue sticks:

• Rotation and pincer grasp to remove lid
• Simple rotation skills to twist bottom of stick
• Sensory - proprioceptive, vestibular (hand eye coordination), tactile
• Grading force for press enough on paper 

Lastly, let's delve into the versatile world of gluing and explore the myriad of activities you can engage in with regular white glue and glue sticks. It's essential to provide kids with experiences using both, as they offer distinct sensory experiences that can influence performance in different activities.

For starters, consider taking your class on a nature walk to collect various items while on a scavenger hunt. These treasures can then be used to create collages or elaborate pictures using glue. Popsicle sticks are another fantastic material for gluing activities. Children can stack and glue them together, then enhance their creations by adding small embellishments like beads, stickers, or even flower petals.

When using cotton balls for gluing, be mindful of potential sensory sensitivities. Some children may find the texture of cotton sticking to glue uncomfortable. Encourage them to persevere and provide support if needed, such as using tongs to hold the cotton balls while applying glue.

By incorporating these diverse gluing activities, you're not only fostering creativity but also refining fine motor skills, such as the pincer grasp, and promoting sensory exploration. Plus, the possibilities for artistic expression are endless, making gluing activities a valuable addition to any classroom curriculum.

Exploring the use of different materials in gluing activities can significantly enhance the experience for children, turning simple tasks into sensory and fine motor skill development opportunities. Your pantry alone can be a treasure trove of materials like rice, pasta, cereals, sprinkles, and even old spices, perfect for creating textured and visually stimulating collages.

The act of ripping paper, a skill that requires a coordinated effort of pushing forward with one hand while pulling back with the other, is challenging for many young children. They often attempt to pull it straight apart, which is less effective. By starting with small strips of paper and gradually moving to larger pieces, children can develop this bilateral skill and the necessary pincer grasp. Incorporating these ripped pieces into a project, such as forming the letters of their name or simple shapes and gluing them onto a larger sheet of paper, engages not only their fine motor skills but also their creative thinking.

For projects covering larger surfaces, using a paintbrush to spread glue can be an easier and less intimidating method for children who are hesitant to use their fingers. This introduces them to using fine motor utensils in a new and practical way.

Creating crayon-rubbing designs with glue offers another layer of artistic exploration. By tracing shapes with white glue on paper or cardboard and allowing it to dry, children can later use this as a base for crayon rubbings, introducing them to textures and the concept of relief.

Glue activities inherently work on developing hand strength and sensory processing as children learn to gauge the amount of pressure needed to squeeze glue from a bottle without overdoing it. The phrase "dot, dot, not a lot" is a helpful reminder, though mastering this control is a significant challenge for many. Furthermore, the task of opening a glue bottle, which may require unscrewing a cap, or picking off dried glue, offers additional fine motor practice. Yet, sometimes, dried glue obstructs the opening, necessitating the delicate removal of this tiny "scab." Simply immersing their hands in glue and peeling it off can be a valuable fine motor exercise and sensory experience.

Furthermore, glue sticks offer an excellent opportunity to enhance bilateral skills. Maneuvering the lid and rotating the stick to dispense more glue—these actions demand coordination. Yet, children often struggle with moderation, as evidenced by their tendency to over-dispense glue, resulting in unsightly globs across their page. Thus, teaching them to dispense just the right amount—perhaps through a few measured turns—encourages the development of control and precision in their actions.

Additional Fine Motor Activities and Resources

Here are some additional resources for fun activities to incorporate into your classrooms.

• Using medicine droppers or turkey basters 
• Hole punchers (leaf confetti) 
• Finger play songs (daddy finger, itsy bitsy spider) 
• Poking with push pins (into floral foam) 
• Hammers and golf tees 
• Playing with coins in piggy bank (feeding tennis ball) 
• Wiki stick designs (use as top line/bottom line for letter formation)
• Wringing out sponges or washclothes 
• Twisting pipe cleaners
• Folding paper  
• https://www.theottoolbox.com/fine-motor-skills/ 

Medicine droppers and turkey basters are excellent tools for developing grasping skills. Consider using hole punchers to create leaf confetti for outdoor activities. Fingerplay songs are perfect for promoting finger isolation. You can also use push pins, varying in size, to poke into floral foams. For safety, opt for larger push pins if working with younger children. Golf tees and wooden hammers are fantastic additions to any preschool classroom. Engage children with activities involving coins. Wiki sticks, wax-coated strings that can be molded, are ideal for teaching letter formation. Practice hand strengthening by wringing out sponges and washcloths during car wash and cleaning activities. Twist and manipulate pipe cleaners or use them for beading projects. Folding paper is a challenging skill that enhances dexterity. We want to recommend a fantastic website, theottoolbox.com, which offers many fine motor skill ideas. Additionally, explore social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram using hashtags such as #finemotorskills or #preschoolfinemotor for more inspiration. Should you have any further questions or require assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us using the contact information provided in your handout. We're here to help!

References

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Fischer, U., Suggate, S., Stoeger, H., (2020). The implicit contribution of fine motor skills to mathematical insight in early childhood. Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 11.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01143

Gandotra, A., Kotyuk, E., Bizonics, B., Khan, I., Petánszki, M., Kiss, L., , Paulina, L., & Cserjesi, R. (2023) An exploratory study of the relationship between motor skills and indicators of cognitive and socio-emotional development in preschoolers. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 20:1, 50-65, DOI: 10.1080/17405629.2022.2028617

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