Skill: Fine Motor Control

Using the small muscles in the hands and wrists to make precise movements. This is the foundation for almost all school tasks, like drawing, writing, and using tools.

The Pincer Mask Maker

The Pincer Mask Maker

Steps:

  • Draw two large eye circles on a paper bag.
  • Help your child cut out the eyes.
  • Spread glue around the eyes.
  • Use a pincer grasp to pick up one bean at a time.
  • Press the beans into the glue to make eyebrows.
  • Add sequins for a sparkly nose.
  • Slide the bag over your head to reveal your new face!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while using scissors. Small beans and sequins can be a choking hazard. Keep all small parts away from the mouth.

Bottle Labyrinth Ball Squeeze

Boy squeezing a plastic bottle with a taped straw to blow a ping pong ball through a cardboard straw maze at a kitchen table

Steps:

  • Cut a large flat rectangle from your cardboard to act as the base for your labyrinth.
  • Use markers to draw a start and finish line on opposite ends of the cardboard.
  • Cut your straws into various lengths and tape them down to the cardboard to create winding maze walls.
  • Make sure the paths are just wide enough for the ping pong ball to roll through.
  • Take an empty, flexible plastic bottle and tape a single straw into the opening, sealing the rest of the cap with masking tape so air only comes out of the straw tip.
  • Place the ping pong ball at the start line of your maze.
  • Ask your child to hold the cardboard steady with their non-dominant helper hand.
  • With their dominant hand, have them squeeze the bottle to release puffs of air through the straw, pushing the ball through the maze toward the finish line.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children during play to ensure straws and small pieces of tape are used safely. Ensure the plastic bottle is clean and free of sharp edges before assembly.

The Taped Paper Roll Wind-Up

Girl wrapping blue yarn around a cardboard paper roll marked with marker dots

Steps:

  • Use your markers to draw a few small target dots along the paper roll.
  • Cut a long piece of yarn, about three feet in length.
  • Use a small piece of masking tape to stick one end of the yarn to the top of the paper roll.
  • Ask your child to hold the paper roll with their helper hand.
  • Have them use their other hand to slowly wrap the yarn around the roll.
  • Encourage them to cover each marker dot as they twist the roll.
  • Once the yarn is all wrapped, use another piece of tape to secure the end.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure the yarn is used safely. Keep long strings away from the neck area.

The Confetti Cupcake Decorator

Boy using tongs to drop punched paper dots into paper baking cups glued to cardboard

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw three big circles on your cardboard.
  • Glue a baking cup onto each circle to make the cupcake base.
  • Have your child use the hole puncher on colorful paper to make dots.
  • Squeeze some glue into the bottom of each baking cup.
  • Ask your child to pick up the paper dots using the tongs.
  • Challenge them to drop the sprinkles into the cups to decorate the treats.
  • Use their helper hand to keep the cardboard steady while they work.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure safety. Small paper dots can be a choking hazard for younger children.

Rainbow Ribbon Wall Weave

Girl weaving a red ribbon through slits in a cardboard panel taped to the wall at shoulder height

Steps:

  • Draw five long vertical lines on your cardboard.
  • Use your scissors to cut a slit along each line.
  • Make sure the slits are wide enough for the ribbon.
  • Use masking tape to stick the cardboard to a wall.
  • Put it at your child’s shoulder height.
  • Give your child a colorful ribbon.
  • Show them how to poke the ribbon through the first slit.
  • Help them weave it over and under across the slats.
  • Repeat this with all the different colors!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is needed while using scissors. Ensure the cardboard is taped tightly to the wall so it does not fall.