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...]
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...]
Beginning Sounds Matching Activity
An important skill to work on with young children, is learning to distinguish the beginning sounds in words. This is a skill that will build the foundation for reading. I have a really fun activity to share with you that will practice beginning sounds of words and practice fine motor skills! This beginning sounds matching activity is very simple to set up. Here's what you need: paint stir stick (free from hardware stores) clothespins stickers or pictures marker To set up … [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...]
10 Pre-Writing Activities for Preschoolers
My oldest, who is almost 5, recently started attending a wonderful church preschool. At school, he is asked to trace his name as well as other letters they are working on. When I watch him write, I notice he is upset when he can't follow the lines perfectly. (I think he got this perfectionist trait from me...sorry!) I also notice that it is hard for him to control the writing utensil. Because I saw this lack of confidence in his writing skills and I decided to help him with this. I realized the … [Read more...]
Scissor Cutting Stations
This post contains affiliate links. Scissor practice is SO important for preschoolers. Did you know that scissor practice is actually a pre-writing skill? It's true! When children use scissors, they have lots of practice moving their fingers and are also gaining strength in their hands. Using scissors takes a lot of coordination! I recently read this article that shares the the proper way to hold scissors. After reading it, I learned that the correct way to hold scissors is with your index … [Read more...]