The ability to use both hands together as a team. We use this for almost everything, like holding the paper with one hand while cutting with the other, or buttoning a shirt.
This hatching egg activity provides the child with a fun chance to address fine motor skills and bilateral coordination.
Preparation:
Step 1: Draw a chick’s face on an oval-shaped construction paper.
Step 2: Cut the oval-shaped brown construction paper into cracks & tape it together onto the chick’s face.
Step 3: Have the child use both hands to pull off the brown eggshell from the baby chick.
This catch-a-bug activity provides the child with a fun chance to address fine motor skills.
Preparation:
Step 1: Lace yarn through a basket.
Step 2: Place toy bugs (i.e. figurines, erasers, etc.) on yarn.
Step 3: Have the child manipulate the tongs to retrieve the bugs.
For this activity, you can use any type of basket/container.
Buttoning is a fun fine motor skill to work on! It is more motivating when it involves our children’s favorite characters; in this case, Noodle & Pals from Super Simple Songs on YouTube!
Here, we created peek-a-boo buttoning boards that progressed from easy to more challenging buttoning skills.
Preparation:
Step 1: Cut up a piece of cardboard of your desired size (Our cardboard is the blue & white checkered print in the photo).
Step 2: Cut felt to your desired size. Ensure there will be enough overlap between the felt pages when you close the buttoning board.
Step 3: Glue the edge of the felt to the edges of the backside of the cardboard.
Step 4: Glue/sew the buttons on one side of one of the felt pages.
Step 5: Cut out slits to match the sizes of your buttons on the other felt page.
Step 6: Optional – take a marker & outline the edges of the button openings (the slits you just cut), so it makes it easier to visually identify the location of the buttonhole opening.
Step 7: Print, cut & glue on your child’s favorite character at the top of the cardboard sheet.
Tips and Grading Options:
Warm-Ups:
Insert popsicle sticks through slits on a coffee cup lid.
Insert coins into piggy banks.
Pick out buttons from playdough.
To make it easier:
Start with fewer buttons.
Create larger buttoning hole openings.
Highlight the buttoning hole openings by drawing around them (such as the black markings in the photo).
Use larger buttons.
Demonstrate how to button & use simple language.
To make it more challenging:
Increase the number of buttons.
Create smaller buttoning hole openings.
Use smaller buttons.
Use fabric with busy patterns.
Use fabric with flimsier material.
As always, ensure safety in all activities. Provide assistance and supervision as needed.