5 activities to improve fine motor skill development for children 

Here are 5 fun activities you can implement in your classroom or home to improve children’s fine motor skills, particularly pincer grip.

1. Play tea parties and encourage wrist extension by carrying trays

   
   
   Learn more about how to develop wrist extension in my handwriting blog article here
   
   

2. Make paper chains or pipe cleaners chains to encourage bilateral coordination

   
   
   

3. Use small tongs to pick up pom poms, pasta, or magnetic letters hidden in rice

   
   
   

   Using tongs to pick up pasta, pom poms, etc. helps children to develop the grasp/release movement that is needed for cutting with scissors. Cutting with scissors requires a smooth, rhythmic hand motion and tongs can provide a similar motion to the hands without the risk of using sharp scissors.
   
   

   For children who find using large tongs difficult, take a step back and encourage children to pinch and pick up small objects with a rhythmic pinching action (no tongs in hand).
   
   

4. Tear paper with the first two fingers and thumb to promote pincer grip strength

   
   
   

5. Place pom poms into a container while holding a pom pom in your hand (this teaches the last 2 fingers to not be involved in the activity)

   

To get more fine motor activity click here