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2 Aug

Fun Rubber Band Passing Fine Motor Game

Fine MotorToddlersPreschoolers
27 Comments

A fine motor activity that focuses on hand strength using rubber bands.

I called this activity a game to my boys. They were super excited to play the game and wanted to know what it was called.

Here’s the thing: I didn’t have a name.

Fun Rubber Band Passing Fine Motor Game

Henry used that later in the game when he wasn’t doing part of it “right.” He said it didn’t really matter because it’s just a game I made up.

Oh goodness boy…

So, this is my made-up, “doesn’t really matter,” rubber band passing game.

To set up your own rubber band passing fine motor game, you’ll need:

  • rubber bands
  • cups
  • small objects – we used golf tees
IMG_7972-001

Building Hand Strength Through Play

I really wanted to work in a way to build hand strength. The entire object of this activity is to use the rubber band around their fingers so that when they open their hand up to grab something, it creates resistance.

So I first had to show the boys how to put the rubber band on and hold it on their hand so that this would happen.

A fine motor activity that focuses on hand strength using rubber bands.

George didn’t have any problem with this at all. He stuck it on, it stayed right in place and he went about the game as normal.

Henry’s rubber band kept slipping back because he’d open his hand up too far. This is why he said it didn’t really matter because my game was just made up anyway.

After they figured out the rubber band situation, I set them up with two cups. One empty. One full of golf tees.

Any small object would work for this. This is just what I had plenty of on hand.

The point of the game was for George to pick up and pass all the golf tees to Henry, who would then put them into the empty cup.

A fine motor activity that focuses on hand strength using rubber bands.

They loved it. So simple.

But because it was a “game” to them, it was more exciting than if I were to call it an exercise for their hands. Even though that’s exactly what it was!

Fine Motor Fun & Cooperative Play

In addition to it being a fine motor activity, it was also an activity for them to cooperate together.

Henry would ask George to get it another tee, or George would wait for Henry to be ready for another one. I loved seeing them work together.

A fine motor activity that focuses on hand strength using rubber bands.

I’m such a strong believer in fine motor skills that I teamed up with No Time for Flash Cards, Teach Preschool, and The Imagination Tree to chat about exactly this! We all shared different ways to build these critical skills in young children.

I loved talking to these incredible experts, discovering even more ways to work on fine motor skills with my boys!

This fine motor skills activity is all about creating resistance on your preschoolers hands using a rubber band while they pick up, pass, and stretch those little fingers.

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About Jamie Reimer

Jamie learned to be a hands on mom by creating activities, crafts and art projects for her three boys to do. Jamie needed the creative outlet that activities provided to get through the early years of parenting with a smile! Follow Jamie on and Instagram!

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27 Comments

  12. Peggy Melvin says

    When ripping paper, start with tissue paper for a few weeks, then construction paper for a few weeks, then oaktag, finally cardboard….When your child’s muscles get stronger they can handle the more resistance found in stiffer papers. Use the pieces ripped to fill in a shape drawn on paper, glue to the outline of a drawn shape, fill in a drawn apple, a fat letter (letter in child’s name)…etc.
    I would NEVER use toothpicks—the double pointed ends are very dangerous. If a glue bottle falls over and you turn away to grab…in that instant— a child can get hurt….Golf tees are a bit safer.

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  15. eileen says

    Hi Jamie,
    I am a special ed. teacher of young children. I read your very creative blog a lot and love your ideas. May I add something to the discussion of fine motor skills. In addition to hand muscles, the muscles in and around the mouth are hugely important and often overlooked when we think of small muscle development. Some activities I do to develop oral motor are: blowing dish detergent/water with straws into bowl (think when your mom told you not to blow bubbles into your milk:) blowing pompoms through cardboard tubes, sucking applesauce or yogurt smoothies with a straw. I have many other super fun fine motor activities and I make most of my own games and materials. Contact me if you wish and I will share more. Good luck to you! Eileen

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