Fine Motor Skills

Sewing

Sewing is a great fine motor activity! If your child is around 2yrs or older, they will have the dexterity to start sewing. All the items you’ll need are: a piece of cloth, (for a small child- a large, plastic sewing needle), regular sewing needles for older children, and some embroidery thread. You could also purchase a small embroidery ring- as pictured- to make holding the cloth easier.

If your child is around 4/5 or older, they can start using a regular sewing needle. Just help them tie a knot in the end of the thread, and let them go! You could also draw a little pattern on the cloth for them to follow; or, just let them poke the needle around however they please, and see what happens. For extra fun, let them use a thimble on one finger and see if that helps or hinders their movement. Either way, their little fingers will get a workout, and they’ll have fun!

Scissors

Learning to use scissors is a big life skill. And, if your kids are anything like mine, your little ones will be eager to master this activity a.s.a.p.

To keep those little fingers safe when they’re just beginning, I’d suggest giving them a small pair of scissors and something easy to cut. Tissue paper, newspaper, or play-doh are all great starter materials! Just make sure to keep your eyes on them the first few times they start using scissors; and tell them the rules about using sharp tools. We usually say, “always watch where your fingers are, don’t ever point them at your face, and if you’re walking make sure to keep them tucked in your hands- pointed down at the floor, not at yourself or others.”

paper weaving

This is a great activity I found from The Art Assignment on YouTube. (Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACedkrDXe48 ).

Here’s how it works:

Cut a piece of paper into even line/strips with an exacto knife or paper cutter, making sure to stop before the edge. (Don’t cut your base paper all the way through.) Making your strips about 1/2 inch apart is a good width to start.

Then, have your child color a separate page to cut into strips for weaving. Your child can cut this paper into strips for the weaving, or you can measure them out and cut them evenly if you like. Then, just weave the strips through your base paper, alternating over/under; and voila- art! :)