10 Fun Fine Motor Gift Ideas For Kids
Fine motor skills are a vital part of every child’s development. Almost every daily task we do requires some level of fine motor skill. In our modern world of technology and screens, researchers are finding that kid’s fine motor skills are often getting left behind. So,if you’re still shopping for the kids in your life and want to help them strengthen and develop their fine motor skills here are 10 ideas for fine motor gifts:
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Play Doh/ Clay
Great for hand strengthening
While I previously mentioned Play Doh and clay in my last post about sensory processing gift ideas (check it out here), these are also great activities to help improve hand strength and fine motor skills! The resistance of Play Doh requires sufficient hand and finger strength as well as general dexterity in order to manipulate it adequately. The great thing about Play Doh is that there are so many accessories available that also work on fine motor skills. From Play Doh sets that encourage kids to cut and style Play Doh hair, or the dentist kit that uses tweezers to “extract” Play Doh teeth, your child can work on fine motor, sensory, and general creativity skills all in one!
2. Peg Toys
Helps work on pincer grasp
A quick search for “fine motor toys” on Amazon or Google will bring up hundreds of options available on the market. MANY of these toys have similar components (they are usually some type of peg that is being put into some kind of slot or hole or some type of ring being put onto some type of stick). These activities are great for helping grasp development, finger dexterity, and visual-motor integration. There are a variety of different kinds, from dinosaurs to hedgehogs to robots so the odds of finding one that would appeal to your child’s interests is definitely in your favor. For older children a Lite Brite would be a great option to work on those fine pincer skills while making a picture!
These are also easy homemade activities as well. For example, if you child enjoys Paw Patrol, you can print and cut out various characters from the show and glue or tape them onto popsicle sticks. Then take a small cardboard box and cut slits just big enough to fit the sticks into or if you have a lot of toilet paper tubes available you can paint or cover the tubes with colored paper and then glue them to another flat piece of cardboard. Then have your child place the popsicle sticks into the slits or the tubes!
3. Crayons/ Coloring Books/ Doodle Pads
Promote pre-writing skills
Many of the kids that I work with do not seem to show interest in drawing or coloring, that is until you allow them to color and doodle on their own. Some kids show more interest when the paper is taped onto the wall (you can always put some white wrapping paper or butcher paper up to make a larger area as needed). It makes them feel like they are drawing on the wall, but the butcher paper keeps the walls safe. Another idea would be to use an old cardboard box with the coloring page or blank paper taped onto it and allow your little one to color to their heart’s content. Crayons, coloring books, doodle pads, or even for older children, nicer art pads give them the opportunity to express themselves through art, while also working on their fine motor skills!
4. Paper Dolls
Creatively work on fine motor manipulation
Paper dolls may sound old fashioned, but many kids find the low tech options to be a fun alternative that allows them to use their imagination. Paper dolls are great because they require your child to either cut out or pop a perforated image out of paper (both great for fine motor development) and then they usually have interchangeable outfits that require manual manipulation to remove and change. There are traditional paper dolls made out of paper, or there are more modern ones made out of wood with magnets (which also work on fine motor skills by requiring finger strength to manipulate the outfit). Paper dolls are great for both young girls and boys and they even have dress up animals available as well!
5. Sticker Books
Improve pincer grasp
Sticker books are a great way to work on pincer grasping skills which are required for many daily skills, especially handwriting. Stickers also require the use of both hands to support the page while peeling the sticky backing off with the opposite hand. Stickers are available in just about any character, color, scene, or object you can think of. There are traditional stickers that will stick more permanently (so be sure you have somewhere safe for your child to place these stickers) or there are also the plastic, static stick stickers (like these) that are reusable, but will not stick to everything. Stickers are great for stocking stuffers and are so versatile that practically any child can enjoy them!
6. Squigs/ Suction Cup Toys
Grip strength, bilateral hand use, and creativity
These toys are great for working on hand strength. Your child has to grip onto the base of the toy and pull with enough force to release the suction, which works on grip strength and endurance. These toys work well for building things since they come in many different colors, lengths, and corners. Squigs are the traditional brand name option, but there are other, more affordable options available if you do a quick Amazon or Google search (I use the BunMo brand myself). These toys will offer your child a chance to work on hand strengthening in a fun and interactive way for years to come!
7. Beads
Crafty bilateral hand use
Depending on your child’s age, beads are a great way to work on fine motor skills. While many people automatically think of the small, plastic craft beads we all used to make friendship bracelets at summer camp, there are a variety of beads available that can work on fine motor manipulation skills! There are larger, typically wooden beads (like these) that are more appropriate for toddlers and there are smaller crafty colored beads (like these) that are more appropriate for older children or teenagers. Either way, picking up beads works on pincer grasp and finger isolation skills, while threading the bead onto a lace or piece of string works on bilateral integration (using both hands together). Beads are a fun way for your child to begin or continue working on using both hands together and they may even be proud to make you a bracelet or two!
8. Scissor Scoopers
Works on scissor skills and hand strength
If you’re a new parent or have never worked with young children, you may not have heard of scissor scoopers. These are just what they sound like, scoopers that you use like scissors (check them out here for an example). They are generally made for smaller hands (think preschool or young elementary aged children), but they work on hand strengthening, scissor skills, and opening/ closing the hand without having to worry about your child cutting something they shouldn’t (such as giving themselves or you a crazy hair cut). I’ve had kids scoop up small beads, pom poms, water beads, or colored rice/ beans from a bowl. If you do want to get these for a little one in your life, make sure to get something they can scoop up easily.
9. Tweezers/ Tongs
Hand strengthening and pre-writing grasp
Preparing the hand for handwriting skills starts younger than you would think. Toddlers are already forming the hand skills needed to be able to write in the future and tweezer or tong games are a great way to help them develop those skills. There are a variety of sizes and shapes of tweezers available (such as these alligator tweezers on Amazon) so any age child can benefit from tweezer play. If your child can’t seem to get the hang of tweezers, kitchen tongs are a great alternative. Make sure your child has something to pick up (such as pom poms, cotton balls, or ping pong balls if you’re using tongs) and they will have a great time working on their fine motor skills! They even have pre-made tweezer games like this one if you want everything in one package!
10. Aquabeads/ Fuse Beads
Fun craft for older kids
If you haven’t heard of Aquabeads, you’re in for a treat. Aquabeads or Fusebeads are used to make small artistic pictures or figurines and they fuse together using just water! The kit usually comes with a small square that has small pegs on it to hold the individual beads in whatever design your child wants to make, then you spray it with water, allow it to dry and voila! Instant bead charm! I would recommend these for slightly older children not only because they require more fine motor control, but also because younger children will probably try to put them in their mouth, which is definitely not advised. There are several different kinds and they usually come with instructions to make specific characters (like Super Man) or objects (like an ice cream cone). You’ll definitely want to supervise your child while they are making their art just in case they need some assistance, but otherwise, many kids I know have found these beads to be a fun and engaging way to work on fine motor skills without even knowing it!
While Christmas and the holidays are already among us, hopefully I’ve given you some helpful ideas for those last minute gifts to help build your child’s imagination and play skills while also working on their valuable fine motor skills at the same time! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
