Fine motor sensory activities are healthy for development in kids. They enable them to get that awesome sensory feedback that they need while also practising those all important fine motor skills. 
These fine motor sensory activities can be used at home or in preschool or the classroom.
Even older kids can benefit from fine motor work. Improving fine motor skills improves hand-eye coordination which is an important skill for driving and playing sports.
Another benefit of improving fine motor skills is that it helps children understand how their body works. This is great for body awareness and self-esteem.
The activities don’t have to be complicated. Simple and done is better than intention that doesn’t happen. Just pull out some buttons and throw them in a bin with some water beads and have your child dig for the buttons. Fine motor sensory play = done!
Fine Motor Sensory Activities:
- Frozen Treasure Find
- Cotton Ball Throw Painting – This sensory activity is good for both fine motor and gross motor skills.
- Eyeball Sensory Bin
- Frozen Inspired Sensory Bin
- Sensory Lego Letters Activity
- Peppermint Scented Christmas Playdough Activity
- Squishy Sky Sensory Bag
- Winter Sensory Tray
- Sky Sensory Bin
- Tactile Sensory Cards
- Colour Mixing Sensory Bag
- Frog Sensory Bin with Play Puffs
- Unicorn Sensory Bag
Benefits of Fine Motor Skills Practise:
Fine motor skills are a precursor for other important developmental milestones such as writing, eating, dressing, and manipulating objects in their day-to-day life.
Here are the benefits of improving fine motor skills:
- encouraging independence
- dressing skills such as fastening buttons, snaps, and zippers
- hand-eye coordination
- creativity
- develop skills for feeding themselves
- grooming such as teeth brushing, toileting, and hair care
- improving self-esteem
- speech and language development
- building with blocks and other materials
- being able to turn the pages of a book which helps provide a foundation for reading
- improving social skills because of ability to participate in group activities and games
- arts and crafts
- more proficient at technology
- ability to do chores
- holding, grasping, squeezing, and pinching small objects
- future scissor use
- pencil grasp
- improved dexterity
When you combine a sensory component to the fine motor activities, children are better able to retain what they learn and are more engaged. And the more senses you engage, the more effective the experience.
Other Fine Motor Sensory Activities:
Fine Motor Sensory Play Using a Sand Tray from Buggy and Buddy
Fine Motor Fun with Water Beads from Still Playing School
Sensory Name Recognition Bags over on The Preschool Toolbox
Fine Motor Skills for Preschoolers – Bead Transferring Activity at The Natural Homeschool
Pasta Threading Activity from Messy Little Monster
Neon Squirt Sensory Play at Days with Grey
Cardboard Drop Box by Happy Hooligans
Fine Motor Skills Activities, Practice, Crafts and Printable List of Ideas by The Natural Homeschool
Craft Stick Launchers on STEAM Powered Family (great for older kids)
Threading Cheerios on Learning and Exploring Through Play
Activities Using Kitchen Tongs to Promote Fine Motor Skills from Kiddie Charts
Pine Cone Snowy Owl from Red Ted Art
Looking for answers to your sensory questions? Sensory Processing Explained: a Handbook for Parents and Educators offers real strategies and practical solutions.
