Helping your child with their fine motor development doesn’t require fancy activities or expensive equipment. There are many things you can easily do at home to work on this skill with them. This ball and bands activity is such a simple fine motor challenge that kids can do with items you already have at home. 
Ball and Bands Fine Motor Activity:
Supplies needed:
- small elastic bands (like the Rainbow Loom kind you may have laying around!)
- ball with textured knobs
Directions:
- Stretch the bands to fit over the knobs of the textured ball. Add as many as you want to, but this activity is challenging for small hands, so be sure to consider the ability of the child. It’s best not to put too many bands on the ball which could cause frustration.
- Encourage your child to carefully remove the bands from the ball. This will work on their fine motor skills, pincer grasp, and concentration.
- Once your child has mastered this skill, you can have them try to place the elastic bands on the knobby ball themselves.
In addition to working on pincer grasp, fine motor, and concentration, kids will also be receiving that all important sensory input. So this seemingly simple activity packs big value.
It is quick to set up and inexpensive. This is perfect for preschoolers and with help, even some toddlers can attempt this.
To expand this activity:
For older kids or those with more advanced fine motor skills, you can have them try to create shapes using the loom bands on the spikes on the ball. Let them get creative!
Please note that the rubber bands are small and therefore, adult supervision should be used with this (or any of our other) activities.
You may also be interested in these fine motor activities for kids:
