6 Preschool Activities to Develop Gross and Fine Motor Skills

The development of gross motor skills and fine motor skills play a large role in early childhood development. Motor skills refer to a person’s ability to perform bodily movements. In particular, gross motor skills refer to generalized movements that require the coordination of large muscles, such as standing up and walking. Fine motor skills are more specialized, referring to movements that require the coordination of small muscles, particularly hand eye coordination. Examples of activities that require fine motor skills would include writing and picking up objects.

 

Both classifications of motor skills start developing at birth and should be well developed by the age of 5 years old. To ensure proper development, educational activities that practice these skills can be beneficial.

 

Gross Motor and Fine Motor Activities by Interest

 

We’ve put together a variety of activities that can help develop your little one’s motor skills. Here are 3 gross motor activities and 3 fine motor activities, categorized by interest.

 

Motor Activities: Animals

 

Gross Motor: Animal Imitation Game

Put together a list of animals that your child loves. Randomly call out an animal and prompt them to show you what that animal looks like and how they move. Cow, horse, bunny, chicken, dog, cat, lion, elephant, zebra, pig, and snake are our favorites!

 

Fine Motor: Zoo Animal Fine Motor and Counting Activity

This activity comes from Pre-K Pages and we love it so much! Download and print the free printables provided. Next you will need ‘gems’ that can be purchased at the craft store or dollar store. Each page will include a zoo animal and a number of circles. For each card prompt your child to first name the animal, then place one gem inside of each circle. This activity not only touches on fine motor skills but also touches on counting and identifying.

 

Motor Activities: Painting

 

Gross Motor: Egg Splatter Art

This activity is messy, so you’ll want to do it outside. First you will need a dozen eggs and an assortment water-based childrens paints. Create a hole in the top of the eggshells, empty the egg contents, and fill with paint.  Next, set out a canvas, preferably propped up against a tree or pole, and let your child have fun throwing paint bombs at their target!

 

Fine Motor: Paint Inside the Lines

Since fine motor skills require hand eye coordination; practicing painting inside the lines of coloring pages can help develop these skills. Crayola offers hundreds of free coloring page printables. They even offer free Disney coloring pages.

 

Motor Activities: Outdoors

 

Gross Motor: Sports

Outdoor sports such as soccer, t-ball, and even cheerleading can be great for developing a healthy level of muscle, reflexes, and flexibility. While your child is young, we recommend focusing more on motor development and leaving the competitive aspect for later down the road.

 

Fine Motor: Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts are great for not only developing fine motor skills, but they also touch on creative thinking processes and sensory development. Buggy and Buddy offers a curated Pinterest board full of free printable scavenger hunts.

 

What if my child isn’t meeting their milestones?

 

Little Lukes is a preschool and therapy company specializing in preparing children for kindergarten. Our in-house staff includes early childhood preschool teachers, special education teachers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists.

 

If you believe your child isn’t meeting their gross or fine motor milestones, please speak with your Little Lukes center director or visit our website for instructions on how to refer your child for evaluation.

 

If your child is eligible for Early Intervention or preschool services, Little Lukes will help you along the way with our staff of certified teachers, OTs, PTs, and SLPs.

 

Little Lukes Preschool

 

Little Lukes is a leading Syracuse and Oswego County education provider with five inclusion preschool locations. The early education program includes credentialed and caring staff that specializes in comprehensive infant, toddler and pre-kindergarten development. Additional services include pediatric speech therapy, pediatric physical therapy and pediatric occupational therapy. Preschool locations include Dewitt (East Syracuse), Baldwinsville (Radisson), Oswego, Fulton, and Pulaski.

 

For information about Little Lukes, please contact us at www.littlelukes.com/contact.html