Here are some more fine motor skills activities to help strengthen children’s hands for pencil grasp. Check out the Fine Motor Skills page for many more ideas.
Beads in a Paint Palette
A clear cup of multicolored faceted plastic beads was placed in the middle of the tray. The children use their thumb and forefinger to grasp each bead and place it in one of the bowls of the paint palette tray. The children sorted the beads into the tray by color. Each bowl of the tray holds about 4 beads. A muffin tin could also be used for this activity, but I prefer the paint palette tray because each bowl is smaller and the children have to be more precise about placing the bead into the bowl. The beads and paint palette trays were purchased in a craft store.
Pom Poms with Tweezers
Children use their finger muscles to squeeze the tweezers in order to pick up each pom pom and place it in the ice cube tray. These colored pom poms can be purchased in craft stores. I found the ice tray at a kitchen outlet store.
Pom Poms with Tongs
Children use their hand muscles to squeeze the tongs in order to pick up each pom pom and place it in the bottle.
Spooning Flat Marbles
This tray has two bowls and a spoon. Only one bowl has flat floral marbles in it. Children use the spoon to move the marbles from the left bowl to the right bowl. I put this one out the first week of school & they love it. It’s probably our most popular activity.
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I just wanted to say how thankful I am that I stumbled upon your blog and web-site…they have been so very helpful. I taught 3rd grade for a few years before I had children, and now that my boys (twins) are old enough to start pre-school, I took a Pre-K teaching position at the school they will be going. I’ve been so nervous since Pre-K is so much different than 3rd grade, but your web-site has been more than helpful. It’s so organized and offers so much useful information…I stayed up way too late reading your website and getting great ideas. 🙂
Thank you for sharing all of the wonderful information!
You’re welcome, Lisa, & thanks for the comment! Glad you like the site!
I also want to thank you for giving your time to this web site. It’s a wonderful resource even for long time teachers.
I really think my kiddos are going to dig the tweezers and pom poms! Thanks for sharing such great ideas!
Mandy
http://www.notjustcute.com
I would like to thank you so much for your website! I love your Montessori journey blog! I am not a Montessori teacher, however, I love using your ideas in my traditional preschool classroom!
Thank you so much, Valerie! The Montessori Journey is not mine, however. I just have a link to it, because I love that blog. I agree w/ you! I’m a “traditional” teacher as well, but I find so many useful, creative activities on the Montessori Journey blog.
Thank you so very much for posting all of this. I just moved from Kindergarten to DK (Developmental Kindergarten) and have needed ideas for fine motor skills and students that are younger then Kindergarten age. Your site has helped me tremednously and I am so greatful to you! THANK YOU!!!!
Thanks & good luck, Arianne!
what a great website. i run out of ideas for fine motor activities and these just are such fresh ideas.
thanks for all the wonderful activities.
thank- you for all these awesome ideas! I am running a day care at home and have 3 preschoolers right now and was looking for some learning activities/ crafts and ideas for teaching.