Fine motor activities

Fine motor skills are the small, precise movements of fingers and hands, and toddlers build them through repetition they choose for themselves. Posting a lid through a slot, pinching a cotton ball, threading pasta onto a shoelace, scooping from one bowl into another. These activities give them plenty of that practice without it feeling like practice. Each one lists what to gather, the steps, and what is actually being strengthened, from the pincer grip to hand-eye coordination. Where an activity is tricky at first there is an easier way in, and a harder version for when the first one gets too quick.

29 activities

Scarf Pull Tube illustration Scarf Pull Tube from 12 months · 5-10 min Cup Tower Topple illustration Cup Tower Topple from 14 months · 5-10 min Paper Tear Basket illustration Paper Tear Basket from 14 months · 10-15 min Sponge Squeeze Bucket Transfer illustration Sponge Squeeze Bucket Transfer from 14 months · 10-15 min Toilet Roll Post illustration Toilet Roll Post from 14 months · 5-10 min Towel Tug Fold illustration Towel Tug Fold from 14 months · 5-10 min Velcro Strip Pull Apart illustration Velcro Strip Pull Apart from 14 months · 5-10 min Cup Nesting illustration Cup Nesting from 16 months · 5-10 min Sock Ball Basket illustration Sock Ball Basket from 16 months · 5-10 min Spoon Scoop Pom Transfer illustration Spoon Scoop Pom Transfer from 16 months · 10-15 min Egg Carton Pom Sort illustration Egg Carton Pom Sort from 18 months · 10-15 min Envelope Stuff Mail illustration Envelope Stuff Mail from 18 months · 10-15 min Muffin Tin Sort illustration Muffin Tin Sort from 18 months · 5-10 min Playdough Squeeze Cutter illustration Playdough Squeeze Cutter from 18 months · 10-15 min Spoon Transfer illustration Spoon Transfer from 18 months · 5-10 min Sticky Note Peel illustration Sticky Note Peel from 18 months · 5-10 min Jar Lid Twist & Unscrew illustration Jar Lid Twist & Unscrew from 20 months · 5-10 min Lid Match Stack illustration Lid Match Stack from 20 months · 5-10 min Sticker Peel Page illustration Sticker Peel Page from 20 months · 10-15 min Zipper Pull Practice illustration Zipper Pull Practice from 20 months · 5-10 min Button Box Sort illustration Button Box Sort from 24 months · 10-15 min First Scribble Page illustration First Scribble Page from 24 months · 5-10 min Shape Poster illustration Shape Poster from 24 months · 5-10 min Tower Of Ten illustration Tower Of Ten from 24 months · 10-15 min Big Bead Threading illustration Big Bead Threading from 26 months · 10-15 min Clothes Peg Picnic illustration Clothes Peg Picnic from 26 months · 10-15 min Muffin Tray Sort illustration Muffin Tray Sort from 26 months · 10-15 min Sticker Peel And Stick illustration Sticker Peel And Stick from 26 months · 5-10 min Twist The Lid illustration Twist The Lid from 26 months · 5-10 min

Other types of play

Sensory activities for toddlers · Gross motor activities for toddlers · Everyday helper activities for toddlers · Quiet & calm activities for toddlers · All activities