The skills needed to use scissors, begin at a very young age when babies begin to open and close their fingers to pick up small objects or little pieces of food. When babies crawl and push/pull toys, they build up the muscles in their shoulders and core to have the stability to use objects like […]
Functional Fine Motor Activities for Kids Using Household Items Functional fine motor activities using household items are so important to childhood development. They are the building blocks for higher level skills such as using scissors, drawing, dressing, eating, handwriting and more! Children need to experience frequent practice with fine motor activities to refine the movements […]
Would you have guessed that up to 60% of the elementary school day requires fine motor skills? It certainly stresses the importance of fine motor skill development for school success. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy investigated the motor and technology requirements of kindergarten, second-, and fourth-grade general education classrooms by collecting observational data for […]
There are so many creative and unique ways to make homemade puzzles. Whether for classroom or school use, there are plenty of supplies you can find that you already have to make puzzles. It can be fun to brainstorm yourself and with the children to come up with ideas to create new ideas. As a […]
Fine and Gross Motor Group Activity Idea If you need a fun gross motor group activity idea that also includes fine motor skills and coordination skills, this balloon bat is perfect. You can use the suggested activity for gross motor skill group session, indoor recess, or physical education class. Materials Needed for the Gross Motor […]
As technology and screens take a stronger hold on our children’s lives every day, it is important to analyze the relationship between screen time and fine motor skills in preschoolers. Teachers and therapists continue to report that when they observe young children, motor skill development is lacking. Some hypothesize that this is due to an […]
Think about a time when your child had to use their fine motor skills. Maybe they had to use a pencil to write in school, button their shirt, eat with a fork, or use chopsticks to eat sushi. While it may seem like those activities are no big deal, actually having strong fine motor skills […]
Need a New Year’s Eve countdown game? Check out this dice game for your New Year’s Eve celebration with the children. It is just like Shut the Box. You can play with one player or four players. Download your free New Year’s Eve Countdown Game at the bottom of the post. Directions on How to […]
Recent research was conducted with neurotypical five-year-old children to determine how to improve fine motor skills using physical exercise. As pediatric therapists, we all know the importance of fine motor skill development and school. Whether it is using manipulatives, school supplies, writing or zipping up a backpack, efficient fine motor skills are necessary. This study […]
Play dough is an amazing, simple tool to help children increase muscle strength in the fingers and hands, expand creativity and encourage imagination. Below are 10 ways to use play dough to increase hand strength. Why Use Play Dough to Increase Hand Strength? When children squish, squeeze and pinch play dough, they are working on strengthening all […]