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.

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.

The Foil Caterpillar Match

The Foil Caterpillar Match

Steps:

  • Tear off a long sheet of Aluminium Foil.
  • Use both hands to roll and squeeze the foil into a long, thick snake shape.
  • Use your markers to draw six colorful spots along the caterpillar’s back.
  • Color the tips of six clothespins to match the spots on the caterpillar.
  • Ask your child to hold the foil body with one hand.
  • Have them use their other hand to clip a matching leg onto each colored spot.
  • Challenge them to stand the caterpillar up on its new legs!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Ensure the edges of the foil are pressed flat to avoid scratches.

The Vertical Felt Leaf Clip

The Vertical Felt Leaf Clip

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw a thick, winding vine on a piece of cardboard.
  • Use your scissors to cut out the vine shape for your child.
  • Tape the vine shape vertically onto a wall at your child’s eye level.
  • Cut out several small leaf shapes from the colorful felt sheets.
  • Ask your child to use a pincer grasp to clip a leaf onto the vine.
  • Challenge them to reach across their body to place leaves on the opposite side.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required while using scissors. Ensure the cardboard is taped firmly to prevent it from sliding.

Shiny Shape Impression Match

Shiny Shape Impression Match

Steps:

  • Tape a large sheet of aluminium foil onto a flat piece of cardboard.
  • Select five buttons with different shapes or textures from your collection.
  • Ask your child to press each button firmly into the foil to leave a mark.
  • Remove all the buttons and place them into a small basket.
  • Challenge your child to pick a button and match it back to its shiny foil home.
  • Encourage them to feel the foil marks with their fingertips before choosing.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small buttons are a choking hazard and should be kept away from the mouth.

The Ribbon Ring Squeeze

The Ribbon Ring Squeeze

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw colorful stripes around your empty paper roll.
  • Cut several long strips of ribbon using your child-safe scissors.
  • Use masking tape to stick one end of a ribbon to the top of the roll.
  • Ask your child to hold the paper roll steady with their helper hand.
  • Have them use their other hand to wrap the ribbon tightly around the roll.
  • Once the ribbon is wrapped, use a pincer grasp to tape the end down.
  • Repeat this with different colors until the whole tube is fuzzy and bright!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors. Ensure the ribbon pieces are not long enough to wrap around the neck.