Fine Motor Activities

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Looking for easy fine motor activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners?

All of these fine motor activities are low prep and engaging for little kids!

These fine motor activities are good for strengthening finger muscles and the pincer grasp, which is important for writing.

The pincer grasp is the coordination of the index finger and thumb to hold an item.  

I’ve compiled a list of examples of easy fine motor activities to set up that my twin toddlers enjoy!  All of these are cost-efficient, low prep, and good for one child or groups of children. 

Fine Motor Activities:

Tearing tissue paper, newspaper, or scrap paper 

Popping bubble wrap

Scissors –  You can make a cutting tray with scraps of paper, ribons, leaves, grass, etc.  I had my toddlers cut play dough before they started cutting paper because it’s sturdier and easier to hold.  My twins started off using blunt scissors when they were around 2 1/2 years old.

Legos – I supervise my toddlers with real legos since they are so tiny (not the duplo – plus they prefer the real legos – but you can start with duplo legos and those are great!).  Just supervise extra close if they are using legos so they don’t go in their mouth.

Clothespins – Have them attach clothespins to a piece of cardstock, or match their letters to their name. 

Sensory Bins – I like to add tongs, turkey basters, and tweezers to sensory bins to help with fine motor skills.  Uncooked rice and beans are easy and kids can pick it up one-by-one with their fingers and put it in a container.

Here’s 25 Easy and Low Prep Sensory Bins for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Stickers – Buy stickers at the dollar store of something your toddler is interested in.  Have them peel and put on construction paper.

Trace letters and numbers with paintbrushes or q-tips with washable paint

Playdough – Squishing playdough and tearing pieces, or squishing objects like blocks into playdough is good for fine motor skills practice.

Use tweezers to pick up pom poms – My twins like to use real tweezers.

Coins and trucks toddler activity

I would pre-wash the coins before this activity.  

Spray bottle – Take a spray bottle outside and have your toddler spray plants, outside chalk on the ground, or wash their toys.  I also fill up a spray bottle with vinegar and water and have my toddlers help spray and wipe down surfaces in the house (they love this!)

Related:  30 Outdoor Toddler and Preschool Activities

String cheerios on dry spaghetti noodle or toy rings on a straw.  Just place the dry noodle or the straw in a ball of playdough.

Trace their name, letters, numbers or shapes with a highlighter

Lace beads with a pipe cleaner

Paint with cotton balls on a clip or clothespin.

Crayon, popsicle stick, or straw drop – Have them pick up items and drop into a slotted empty container (like an empty oatmeal or coolwhip container).  My toddlers love this color sorting crayon drop activity!

Rubber band rescue – Put rubber bands on small toys and have your child take them off.

Tape rescue – Tape toys, letters, numbers to a table or cookie sheet and have your child peel them off.  This alphabet activity is a fine motor skills activity and learning activity in one!

Peel painters tape off a wall or a non-carpeted floor

Outside chalk – Write on the pavement or a fence.

Push pipe cleaners through a basket 

Make a nature cutting bin.  I added twigs, grass, and leaves in a tub and let my toddlers snip them.  They love doing this!

More Fine Motor Activities:

Push thumbtacks in foam from shipping boxes- Supervise closely but so much fun!

Take apart toys with screwdrivers

Glue pom-poms onto construction paper

Markers, crayons, pens, and pencils – Very simple but so important to start early on.  I don’t buy the thick toddler crayons, just the regular thin ones and my toddlers seem to use the pincer grip more with these.

Gluesticks – My toddlers like to glue pre-cut construction paper onto a larger piece of construction and make abstract art.

Make beaded necklaces 

What fine motor activities do you do with your toddler or preschooler?