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.

178 activities

Ball Hand To Hand illustration Ball Hand To Hand from 12 months · 5 min Car Paint Tracks illustration Car Paint Tracks from 12 months · 10-15 min Draw in the Oats illustration Draw in the Oats from 12 months · 10-15 min Finger Paint Fruit illustration Finger Paint Fruit from 12 months · 10-15 min Go Again? illustration Go Again? from 12 months · 5 min Handprint Bats illustration Handprint Bats from 12 months · 10-15 min Handprint Black Cat illustration Handprint Black Cat from 12 months · 10-15 min Ring Pass illustration Ring Pass from 12 months · 5 min Scarf Post Box illustration Scarf Post Box from 12 months · 10-15 min Scarf Pull Tube illustration Scarf Pull Tube from 12 months · 5-10 min Scarf Through the Box illustration Scarf Through the Box from 12 months · 5-10 min Scribble Box illustration Scribble Box from 12 months · 20-30 min Shoe Box Lid Flip illustration Shoe Box Lid Flip from 12 months · 10-15 min Slinky Ball Drop illustration Slinky Ball Drop from 12 months · 10-15 min Spoons In The Bowl illustration Spoons In The Bowl from 12 months · 5-10 min The Pan Cupboard illustration The Pan Cupboard from 12 months · 20-30 min The Tub They Can't Open illustration The Tub They Can't Open from 12 months · 5-10 min Two Hands Full illustration Two Hands Full from 12 months · 5 min Chunky Crayon Scribble illustration Chunky Crayon Scribble from 13 months · 5-10 min Watering Can Fill illustration Watering Can Fill from 13 months · 5-10 min Apple Picking Tree illustration Apple Picking Tree from 14 months · 10-15 min Cup Tower Topple illustration Cup Tower Topple from 14 months · 20-35 min Feed the Hungry Monster illustration Feed the Hungry Monster from 14 months · 10-15 min Fill the Jack-o'-Lantern illustration Fill the Jack-o'-Lantern from 14 months · 10-15 min Handprint Witch illustration Handprint Witch from 14 months · 10-15 min Leaf Window illustration Leaf Window from 14 months · 10-15 min Lids On, Lids Off illustration Lids On, Lids Off from 14 months · 10-15 min Nesting Boxes illustration Nesting Boxes from 14 months · 10-15 min Oat Tub Fill illustration Oat Tub Fill from 14 months · 20-35 min Paper Bag Ghost illustration Paper Bag Ghost from 14 months · 10-15 min Paper Scrunch Bag illustration Paper Scrunch Bag from 14 months · 5-10 min Paper Tear Basket illustration Paper Tear Basket from 14 months · 10-15 min Pine Cone Paint Roll illustration Pine Cone Paint Roll from 14 months · 10-15 min Rip the Velcro illustration Rip the Velcro from 14 months · 5 min Round Hole Posting illustration Round Hole Posting from 14 months · 5-10 min Sock Pull illustration Sock Pull from 14 months · 5 min Spider Tape Rescue illustration Spider Tape Rescue from 14 months · 10-15 min Sponge Squeeze Bucket Transfer illustration Sponge Squeeze Bucket Transfer from 14 months · 20-35 min Tin Tower Build illustration Tin Tower Build 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 Wide Tube Post illustration Wide Tube Post from 14 months · 5-10 min Orange and Black Sort illustration Orange and Black Sort from 15 months · 5-10 min Sticky Tape Line illustration Sticky Tape Line from 15 months · 5-10 min Cup Nesting illustration Cup Nesting from 16 months · 5-10 min Roll It Or Stack It illustration Roll It Or Stack It 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 The Last of the Yoghurt illustration The Last of the Yoghurt from 16 months · 5-10 min As Tall as Teddy illustration As Tall as Teddy from 18 months · 5-10 min Box Block Stack illustration Box Block Stack from 18 months · 5-10 min Cup Print Circles illustration Cup Print Circles from 18 months · 30-45 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 Muffin Tray Snack illustration Muffin Tray Snack from 18 months · 5-10 min Pea Picking Plate illustration Pea Picking Plate from 18 months · 10-15 min Post the Lid illustration Post the Lid from 18 months · 10-15 min Pumpkin Face Stickers illustration Pumpkin Face Stickers from 18 months · 10-15 min Red Box Post illustration Red Box Post from 18 months · 5-10 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 Turn the Tap illustration Turn the Tap from 18 months · 5 min Two Little Towers illustration Two Little Towers from 18 months · 5-10 min Whisk Air Bubbles illustration Whisk Air Bubbles from 18 months · 5-10 min Yoghurt Pot Colour Sort illustration Yoghurt Pot Colour Sort from 18 months · 10-15 min Colour Cup Match illustration Colour Cup Match from 20 months · 5-10 min Lid Match Stack illustration Lid Match Stack from 20 months · 5-10 min Lid Match Up illustration Lid Match Up from 20 months · 30-45 min Lid Twist & Unscrew illustration Lid Twist & Unscrew from 20 months · 5-10 min Scribble Monsters illustration Scribble Monsters from 20 months · 10-15 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 Big One, Little One illustration Big One, Little One from 22 months · 5-10 min Draw With Me illustration Draw With Me from 22 months · 5-10 min Funnel Pour Practice illustration Funnel Pour Practice from 22 months · 10-15 min Paper on the Wall illustration Paper on the Wall from 22 months · 5-10 min Pavement Chalk illustration Pavement Chalk from 22 months · 10-15 min Shape Board Match illustration Shape Board Match from 22 months · 5-10 min Snapped Crayons illustration Snapped Crayons from 22 months · 5-10 min Taped-Down Sheet illustration Taped-Down Sheet from 22 months · 5-10 min Water Painting illustration Water Painting from 22 months · 10-15 min A Card to Post illustration A Card to Post from 24 months · 30-45 min Animal Puzzle Homes illustration Animal Puzzle Homes from 24 months · 5-10 min Box House Build illustration Box House Build from 24 months · 30-45 min Box Inside A Box illustration Box Inside A Box from 24 months · 5-10 min Cap Drop Tub illustration Cap Drop Tub from 24 months · 10-15 min Coffee Filter Bats illustration Coffee Filter Bats from 24 months · 15-20 min Cotton Bud Colour Match illustration Cotton Bud Colour Match from 24 months · 10-15 min First Scribble Page illustration First Scribble Page from 24 months · 20-35 min Fork Print Hedgehogs illustration Fork Print Hedgehogs from 24 months · 10-15 min Leaf Printing illustration Leaf Printing from 24 months · 15-20 min Leaf Rubbings illustration Leaf Rubbings from 24 months · 10-15 min Leafy Lion Mane illustration Leafy Lion Mane from 24 months · 15-20 min Mummy Pumpkin illustration Mummy Pumpkin from 24 months · 15-20 min Nature Paintbrushes illustration Nature Paintbrushes from 24 months · 20-30 min Pine Cone Snail illustration Pine Cone Snail from 24 months · 10-15 min Playdough Squeeze Cutter illustration Playdough Squeeze Cutter from 24 months · 25-40 min Pumpkin Seed Scoop illustration Pumpkin Seed Scoop from 24 months · 15-25 min Pumpkin Stamp Painting illustration Pumpkin Stamp Painting from 24 months · 15-20 min Shaker Bottle Symphony illustration Shaker Bottle Symphony from 24 months · 20-35 min Shape Poster illustration Shape Poster from 24 months · 5-10 min Sponge Ghosts illustration Sponge Ghosts from 24 months · 15-20 min Tilt The Ball Home illustration Tilt The Ball Home from 24 months · 5-10 min Tower Of Ten illustration Tower Of Ten from 24 months · 20-35 min Trace A Plate illustration Trace A Plate from 24 months · 5-10 min Up and Down Lines illustration Up and Down Lines from 24 months · 5 min Who Lives Here? illustration Who Lives Here? from 24 months · 30-45 min Bottom Button First illustration Bottom Button First from 26 months · 5 min Button Strip illustration Button Strip from 26 months · 5-10 min Card Spiders illustration Card Spiders from 26 months · 20-30 min Coat on the Floor illustration Coat on the Floor from 26 months · 5-10 min Colour the Big Circle illustration Colour the Big Circle from 26 months · 5-10 min Grown-Up Cardigan illustration Grown-Up Cardigan from 26 months · 5-10 min Muffin Tray Sort illustration Muffin Tray Sort from 26 months · 10-15 min Paper Plate Pumpkin illustration Paper Plate Pumpkin from 26 months · 15-20 min Pinch and Push illustration Pinch and Push from 26 months · 5 min Round and Round illustration Round and Round from 26 months · 5 min Sticker Peel And Stick illustration Sticker Peel And Stick from 26 months · 5-10 min Teddy's Buttons illustration Teddy's Buttons from 26 months · 5-10 min The Last Bit illustration The Last Bit from 26 months · 5 min Twist The Lid illustration Twist The Lid from 26 months · 5-10 min Undo the Big One illustration Undo the Big One from 26 months · 5 min Worn-In Shirt illustration Worn-In Shirt from 26 months · 5-10 min Block Colour Sort illustration Block Colour Sort from 27 months · 5-10 min Dough Creature illustration Dough Creature from 28 months · 10-15 min In the Mirror illustration In the Mirror from 28 months · 5 min Bark Rubbing illustration Bark Rubbing from 30 months · 20-30 min Big Bead Caterpillar illustration Big Bead Caterpillar from 30 months · 10-15 min Card Flag Bunting illustration Card Flag Bunting from 30 months · 10-15 min Cereal Hoop Necklace illustration Cereal Hoop Necklace from 30 months · 10-15 min Cushion Cover Buttons illustration Cushion Cover Buttons from 30 months · 5-10 min Draw Round Our Hands illustration Draw Round Our Hands from 30 months · 30-40 min First Snips illustration First Snips from 30 months · 10-15 min Fridge Door Gallery illustration Fridge Door Gallery from 30 months · 10-15 min Junk Model Maker illustration Junk Model Maker from 30 months · 30-45 min Mix a New Colour illustration Mix a New Colour from 30 months · 30-40 min Stick Line-Up illustration Stick Line-Up from 30 months · 30-40 min Write What They Say illustration Write What They Say from 30 months · 10-15 min Tube Ball Run illustration Tube Ball Run from 34 months · 30-45 min Autumn Leaf Collage illustration Autumn Leaf Collage from 36 months · 30-40 min Big Brush Colour Mix illustration Big Brush Colour Mix from 36 months · 10-15 min Block Castle illustration Block Castle from 36 months · 30-40 min Bug Hotel illustration Bug Hotel from 36 months · 30-40 min Cardboard Box Car illustration Cardboard Box Car from 36 months · 30-45 min Colour Pattern Tower illustration Colour Pattern Tower from 36 months · 10-15 min Crayon Rubbing Hunt illustration Crayon Rubbing Hunt from 36 months · 10-15 min Draw Round the Shapes illustration Draw Round the Shapes from 36 months · 10-15 min Family Bunting illustration Family Bunting from 36 months · 10-15 min Five Nesting Boxes illustration Five Nesting Boxes from 36 months · 10-15 min Junk Model Rocket illustration Junk Model Rocket from 36 months · 30-45 min Letter for the Postbox illustration Letter for the Postbox from 36 months · 30-40 min Lion Mane Snips illustration Lion Mane Snips from 36 months · 10-15 min Monster Dice Drawing illustration Monster Dice Drawing from 36 months · 10-15 min Paper Hat Folding illustration Paper Hat Folding from 36 months · 10-15 min Paper Snowflakes illustration Paper Snowflakes from 36 months · 10-15 min Parcel Post Office illustration Parcel Post Office from 36 months · 30-40 min Pebble Face Family illustration Pebble Face Family from 36 months · 15-20 min Pumpkin Scoop and Sort illustration Pumpkin Scoop and Sort from 36 months · 30-40 min Salt Dough Shapes illustration Salt Dough Shapes from 36 months · 30-40 min Shadow Drawing illustration Shadow Drawing from 36 months · 15-20 min Shaker Pairs illustration Shaker Pairs from 36 months · 10-15 min Spray Bottle Painting illustration Spray Bottle Painting from 36 months · 15-20 min Stick and Leaf Patterns illustration Stick and Leaf Patterns from 36 months · 10-15 min Tongs Colour Sort illustration Tongs Colour Sort from 36 months · 10-15 min Torn Paper Mosaic illustration Torn Paper Mosaic from 36 months · 15-20 min Water Brush Letters illustration Water Brush Letters from 36 months · 10-15 min Feelings Faces illustration Feelings Faces from 38 months · 10-15 min Foil Tray Boats illustration Foil Tray Boats from 38 months · 30-45 min Junk Mail Name Collage illustration Junk Mail Name Collage from 38 months · 10-15 min Our Art Gallery illustration Our Art Gallery from 38 months · 30-40 min Paper Chain Countdown illustration Paper Chain Countdown from 38 months · 10-15 min Paper Plate Monster Mask illustration Paper Plate Monster Mask from 38 months · 15-20 min Paper Shape Pictures illustration Paper Shape Pictures from 38 months · 10-15 min Pumpkin Shape Faces illustration Pumpkin Shape Faces from 38 months · 10-15 min Spider Web Snip illustration Spider Web Snip from 38 months · 10-15 min Story Map Drawing illustration Story Map Drawing from 38 months · 15-20 min Folded Story Book illustration Folded Story Book from 40 months · 30-40 min Name Sign for the Door illustration Name Sign for the Door from 42 months · 10-15 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