These fine motor activities for toddlers to do are simple and fun!
As I’ve been working on the new eBooks (they’re coming out April 19, 2015), I’ve included a section of printables that showcase a slew of simple activities that cover the different types of activities we do (fine motor, gross motor, etc).
The fine motor Go-To List is jam packed with ideas and I realized that so many of them can done with toddlers! They are perfect! They’re simple, easy to set up and can keep a toddler occupied for more than 10 minutes (maybe! ha ha!).
Remember my tips for doing activities with toddlers? Here they are again:
- Allow your toddler to explore whatever it is that you give them.
- Don’t do an activity with an intentional plan, it never works out with this age range.
- Expect a toddler to be interested, leave it out for them to come back to later, or even the next day.
- Plan for them to put it in their mouth if you have a mouther.
When it comes to fine motor activities for toddlers in particular, don’t think these should just be easy for toddlers to do right away. These really take quite a bit of concentration and coordination to do. Toddlers will pick it up eventually, just don’t force it. And they need to really work on their big muscles first with gross motor activities before they start work on the little muscles.
30 fantastic and fun fine motor activities for toddlers:
These fine motor activities for toddlers include threading, poking, pinching, tracing and focusing on hand and eye coordination! And they’re all easy enough for toddlers in the 1-3 year old range to do! Have fun!
- Pom Pom Drop
- Pipe Cleaners and a Colander
- Beginner Tracing with Objects
- Thread a Fruit Loop Necklace
- Peel Tape
- BIG Beginner Weaving
- Hammering Tees
- Ribbons and a Bottle
- Crafts Sticks and a Bottle
- Painting With Water
- Make a Rattle
- Thread a Bird Feeder
- Squirt and Fizz with Colored Vinegar
- Trace Lines of Chalk
- Pick up Blocks with Tongs
- Nuts & Bolts
- Clothespins on a Bucket
- Pouring Water
- Play Dough and Tees
- Thread a Straw Necklace
- Pipe Cleaner Sprinkles
- Egg Carton Train
- Sort Pom Poms
- Stack Canned Foods as Blocks
- Bucket and a Clothesline
- Snip Straws
- Thread Dry Spaghetti
- Thread Dandelions in a Basket
- Make a Spring Tree Craft (or an Apple Tree for Fall)
- Write ‘Letters’ and Mail Them
Want more activities to work on fine motor skills?
- 30 materials and activities that promote fine motor skills
- 32 objects that strengthen fine motor skills
WANT TO SAVE THIS ACTIVITY?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox so you can access this activity later! Plus, you'll get simple activities from us every week!
Omar says
It’s wonderful to see a list of fine motor activities tailored for toddlers! Engaging in these activities can be not only fun but also highly beneficial for their development.
five nights at freddy's says
Working with one-year-olds in a childcare facility, I find enough to keep me occupied.
Emily says
These are great! I am a preschool teacher currently working with 4-5 year-olds and I can’t wait to try some of these with them. I love how these can all be expanded to include older developmental levels. I also love how simple these are. Most of these supplies I already have in the classroom. Thanks for the fresh inspiration. I can’t wait to explore your site more.
Michelle says
Cool ideas!
kharazmi says
thanks
Mary Tafale says
i got no comments every activities
i have look at will help me with the children
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids says
Great list! I need to start adding some of these ideas to my family’s morning routine for our toddler.