Fine Motor Skill Activities for children

Below is a list of activities that will help your child develop fine motor skills that are essential for performing many functional tasks. 

​​- tying shoes
- doing puzzles (even puzzles with the pieces that have knobs)
- turning pages in a book
- pinching objects between fingers (e.g. Play-Doh)
- playing the game Operation (as seen in the photo above)
- beading activities (e.g. stringing beads from a kit, Cherrios, Fruit Loops, macaroni)
- manipulating buttons and/or snaps
- zipping and unzipping (this can include Ziploc bags)
- using scissors
- tying knots with string/yarn
- creating with Unifix Cubes
- maintaining proper pencil grip and writing
- painting (with a brush)/drawing with pencil, crayon, or marker
- creating with Silly Putty
- buckling and unbuckling
- isolating finger movement (e.g. flexing the index finger)
- creating with modeling clay
- coloring with small or broken crayons (forces one to hold it correctly between the index and thumb)
- properly holding utensils
- games (e.g. Pickup Sticks and Connect 4)
- building with Legos
- storing items in containers with screw lids that need to be opened and closed as needed
- finger painting
- squeezing water from a sponge (use two bowls, one empty/one filled with water), soak up water from one bowl and squeeze it into the other until filled
- make paperdolls
- play string games (e.g. Cat's Cradle)
- playing Mancala 
-  depositing coins (two or three at a time) in to a small bank
- tearing paper (tear art)
- clothespin activities
- playing with squirt toys (e.g. bath toys)
- crumpling small pieces of paper (e.g. for an art project to make snow ball, pebbles, etc.)

This is not a complete list as there are many more activities that can be added. Are there any activities you know/use that are not on this list?