If you have a toddler, you know that it's hard to keep them busy! They are either following you around, making messes around the house, antagonizing siblings, or trying to be "helpful" around the house. Today I'm sharing with you one of my favorite toddler activities. It's called Cotton Ball Smash and it's a great way to work on fine motor skills. Here's what you need for cotton ball smash: 1 cup of flour 1 cup of water whisk bowls food coloring tin foil baking … [Read more...]
Count and Clip Icicle Cards
Is it freezing where you live? We have such cold weather here, but no snow right now! Truthfully, I'd rather have snow if it's going to be so cold out! We do, however, have icicles. Icicles are so pretty! The icicles inspired me to do some activities with my kids, like create a model of an icicle. I also created these Count and Clip Icicle Cards that are great for working on fine motor skills, counting, and one-to-one correspondence (which means matching numerals to objects). Here's what … [Read more...]
Light Bulb Matching Activity
Christmas is around the corner and I have a fun matching activity for your little ones to try! This light bulb matching activity is a fine motor activity, so children are building hand strength which will help them with handwriting skills. Plus this game practices matching colors! This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure for details. Here's what you need for this matching activity: mini light bulbs or sticker light bulbs (mine are from Hobby Lobby! Make sure to get them … [Read more...]
I Can Pound Activity Kit – Giveaway!
Have you heard of Fundanoodle? I just learned about them this year and I'm in love with their products! They offer so many wonderful tools to practice fine motor skills, learn the alphabet, practice scissor skills, and more! Today I'm excited to tell you about my favorite Fundanoodle product...the I Can Pound! Activity Kit. We got our I Can Pound activity kit earlier this year and it has been a favorite activity for my kids. Little do they know they are actually working on good skills while … [Read more...]
Fine Motor Activity with Spray Bottles
I've been saving applesauce and baby food pouch lids for a long time because I just knew they would be great for an activity someday. I'm so glad I did, because they were perfect to use with this fine motor activity with spray bottles. The kids LOVE this simple activity and want to do it all the time. They don't even realize they are working on building up strength in their hands and fingers. Here's what you need for this activity: spray bottle (mine was from Dollar Tree) pouch … [Read more...]
Fine Motor Color Matching Wheel
I was walking through Walmart the other day and I spotted some awesome rainbow clips. Of course, I thought they would be perfect for working on fine motor skills with my preschooler! Today I'm sharing with you how we used those colorful clips with our fine motor color matching wheel. It is so easy to make and wonderful for helping little ones gain hand strength. This color wheel activity is great for older toddlers (2-3 years old) and preschoolers. You simply set out the rainbow-colored … [Read more...]
Weaving Hearts – Fine Motor Activity
It's important for children to have a lot of time to work on fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are the actions that are performed in the small muscles in the hands, fingers and wrists. Your child practices using fine motor skills when holding a pencil, using a pair of scissors or lacing their shoes. Today's fine motor skill is weaving hearts.Here's what you need for the activity: colorful foam sheets scissors To set up the activity, cut out hearts out of foam sheets. Also cut out 4 … [Read more...]
15 Fine Motor Activities for Young Toddlers
My toddler is 15 months and is really into picking things items and placing them into a container. In fact, I've noticed that he's really great at practicing fine motor skills, without even knowing it! Today, I'm going to share with you some of his favorite activities and a total of 15 fine motor ideas for young toddlers. I think there are definite differences between younger toddlers (age 1-2) and older toddlers (age 2-3). This list of ideas is designed for younger toddlers, but of course you … [Read more...]
How to Keep Preschoolers Busy with Newspaper
Before you throw out the newspaper, let me tell you about some awesome ways to practice motor skills and keep kids busy with just a newspaper! If you need a rainy-day activity or are looking for a way practice following directions and motor skills, then this is the activity for you! Start by placing a newspaper (folded in half) in front of your child. Explain that the newspaper is their house. Say the following directions to them: 1. Step onto your house. 2. Jump off your house with … [Read more...]
Motor Skills Practice {With a Bug Theme}
Motor skills are very important to work on in the early years. Both fine motor and gross motor skills are equally important to work on. Today I’m sharing a gross motor and fine motor activity to do with toddlers or preschoolers with a bug theme (and we focused on ants, since that is the bug of the week!) Gross motor skills are the coordination of movements that are required for large movements. Some of these skills include running, hopping, leaping, pushing, twisting, and more. Today I am … [Read more...]