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Fine Motor Skills

In preschool, fine motor skills are those that children develop before they are ready to practice writing the alphabet. They include hand-eye coordination and activities that strengthen the small muscles of the hand and wrist.

 

Give your learners opportunities to do these tasks:

 

• Squeezing 

• Threading 

• Poking

• Kneading 

• Pouring

• Scooping 

• Building 

• Sorting
• Stacking 

• Painting 

• Tearing

• Peeling 

• Clipping 

• Pulling

 

 Helpful Resources

 

40 Fine Motor Skills Activities - The Imagination Tree - https://theimaginationtree.com/40-fine-motor-skills-activities-for-kids/

 

55+ Ways to Strengthen Fine Motor Skills at Home - Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds - https://teaching2and3yearolds.com/55-ways-strengthen-fine-motor-skills-home/

 

 

 

 

Gross Motor Activities

Gross motor activities (sometimes called large motor activities) are activities that get the whole body moving.

 

Be sure that you’re giving your children opportunities to move—whether that’s on the playground or in the backyard.

 

Gross motor activities for preschoolers

  • Running

  • Walking on a line

  • Balancing on one foot

  • Jumping with feet together

  • Skipping

  • Walking on a balance beam

  • Somersaults

  • Throwing a ball to a target

  • Jumping backward

  • Pumping on a swing

  • Hopping on one foot

  • Climbing a playground ladder

  • Pedaling a tricycle

  • Bouncing a ball

  • Walking up and down stairs (one foot on each step)

 

 

  • Helpful resources

 

 

 

 

Sensory Play

Sensory play is play that encourages children to use one or more of the senses. 

 

Why sensory play is important

1. Kids are designed to explore the world through their senses.

2. Sensory play promotes language development. Kids find new ways to talk about their world.

3. Engaging in sensory play with peers or siblings builds social skills.

4. Sensory play is great for building motor skills.

5. Exploring sensory materials helps kids’ emotional development. It can be very calming for kids – relieving energy or stress – and bring a great amount of joy as they explore materials in an exciting way.

6. Since how kids use sensory materials is much more important than what they make with it, sensory play promotes creativity. By solving problems or engaging in make-believe, their creativity is enhanced.

 

Simple sensory play ideas

  • Playing in the sandbox

  • Gathering items from nature

  • Playing with a tub of bubbles

  • Washing toy dishes

  • Using play dough

  • Finger painting

  • Smearing shaving cream on a baking sheet

  • Pouring water in different containers

  • Measuring and pouring dry rice

     

  • Helpful resources