Fine motor skills are the small movements children use in their hands, fingers and arms for everyday tasks.
These skills help children with things like:
- Holding a pencil
- Using scissors
- Opening lunch boxes
- Doing up buttons
- Using cutlery
- Drawing, writing and craft
- Building with blocks or Lego
Fine motor skills do not just come from the hands. Children also need good posture, shoulder stability, hand strength, coordination and finger control.
The good news is there are lots of simple, play-based activities you can do at home.
1. Support Posture and Stability
Before children can use their fingers well, they need a stable body position. Good posture helps the shoulders, arms, wrists and fingers move more easily.
Things that can help:
- Make sure your child’s feet touch the floor during table activities
- Use a slope board, easel or paper taped to the wall for drawing
- Try activities in crawling, kneeling or standing positions
- Encourage pressing, rolling and squashing play dough
- Do floor-based games that build shoulder and core strength
2. Build Hand Strength
Hand strength helps children with everyday tasks like opening containers, using scissors, gripping pencils and fastening buttons.
Try:
- Squeezing sponges in the bath
- Playing with play dough or theraputty
- Using pegs, tweezers or tongs
- Building with Lego or construction toys
- Tearing paper for craft
- Scrunching paper into balls for a game
3. Encourage Both Hands to Work Together
Many tasks need both hands. One hand usually does the job, while the other helps by holding or stabilising.
This is important for:
- Cutting
- Threading
- Opening packets
- Using a ruler
- Tying shoelaces
- Writing
Activities to try:
- Rolling play dough with a rolling pin
- Cutting play dough with a knife and fork
- Threading beads or pasta onto string
- Stirring cake mixture
- Using eggbeaters
- Drawing in shaving cream or finger paint with both hands
- Cutting along simple lines
4. Practise Finger Manipulation
Finger manipulation is the ability to move small objects around in the hand using the fingers.
This helps with:
- Adjusting a pencil
- Doing up buttons
- Picking up small objects
- Using tools with control
Activities to try:
- Rolling tiny balls of play dough in one hand
- Tearing small pieces of paper
- Finding hidden objects in a sensory box or bag without looking
- Using eyedroppers with coloured water
- Making pictures with wool, straws, beads or pom poms
5. Try Fun Fine Motor Games at Home
Peg Games
Clip pegs around a paper plate or cardboard shape. Match colours, letters or numbers, or create patterns.
Toilet Paper Scrunch Race
Scrunch toilet paper into small balls using only one hand.
Tissue Paper Art
Scrunch tissue paper into balls to create mosaics, trees or animal pictures.
Thin Ice Game
Use tweezers or tongs to place wet marbles onto tissue stretched over a container and see how many it can hold before breaking.
Theraputty Treasure Hunt
Hide small objects inside theraputty or play dough and encourage your child to find them using their fingers.
Hungry Tennis Ball
Create a “mouth” in a tennis ball and feed it pom poms or small objects by squeezing it open.
Pom Pom Squeeze Game
Use an empty squeeze bottle to move pom poms toward letters, numbers or shapes.
Keep It Simple and Fun
Fine motor practice does not need to feel like homework.
The best activities are:
- Short
- Fun
- Play-based
- Part of everyday routines
- Matched to your child’s interests
If your child often struggles with pencil grip, cutting, dressing, opening containers or avoiding fine motor activities, an Occupational Therapist can help identify what is difficult and provide practical strategies tailored to your child.