Supporting Fine Motor Skills at Home

Simple ways to strengthen little hands and growing confidence

Fine motor skills are the small, precise hand movements we use every day, from holding a spoon, to buttoning a shirt, to writing our name. These skills develop gradually from infancy through childhood and are key to your child’s independence, coordination, and school readiness.

At Hand and Heart Kid’s OT, we support children in London, Ontario with strategies to build fine motor skills. But there’s so much you can do at home, too, no special tools required!

Here’s a breakdown of fun, developmentally appropriate ways to support fine motor skills at home by age group. Keep in mind that each child develops at their own pace, so please use these groups as a guideline, choosing the activities that are a just-right challenge for your child.

👶 Foundations: Building the Basics Through Play

At this age, kids are just beginning to use their hands in more purposeful ways. The goal is to encourage grasping, pinching, and hand-eye coordination.

Try these activities:

• Drop small toys or cotton balls into containers
• Stack blocks or soft cups
• Scribble with jumbo crayons or markers
• Play with finger foods and encourage self-feeding

Tip: Let them explore with their hands… mess is part of the magic!

🧸 Grasp and Release Skills: Strengthening Control and Precision

Toddlers and preschoolers start using tools, utensils, and their imagination… which is perfect for fine motor development!

Try these activities:

• Tear paper or tissue paper for collage-making
• Use child-safe scissors to snip strips of 1-inch pieces of paper
• Stickers! (great for finger isolation)
• Thread beads onto pipe cleaners or string pasta
• Play with tongs or tweezers during snack time or during pretend play
• Build towers with blocks or Lego
• Squish and poke soft Play-Doh
• Help mixing and adding ingredients in the kitchen (ex. baking, home-made Play-Doh, etc.)

Tip: Give just enough challenge to keep it fun, but not frustrating.

✏️ Hand Strength and Coordination: Getting Ready for Writing

Now your child is refining control, building hand strength, and preparing for more complex fine-motor tasks like writing, cutting with scissors, and dressing independently.

Try these activities:

• Use clothespins to pick up small items
• Trace shapes, letters, or mazes
• Use eyedroppers, syringes, sponges, and spray bottles during water play
• Practice cutting along lines with scissors
• Make shapes with Play-Doh and toothpicks
• Buttoning, zipping, and snapping clothes

Tip: Alternate seated and movement-based play, or even try to combine the two! One of my favourite activities is to set up an obstacle course with clothes pins clipped to objects around the room. Have your child navigate the obstacle course while unclipping the clothes pins.

✍️ Building Endurance and Functional Skills

School-aged children may need extra support for handwriting, speed, or fatigue. At this age, strengthening small hand muscles and practicing control can make a big difference.

Try these activities:

• Use chopsticks or tweezers for games or snacks
• Play games like Operation, Perfection, or Jenga
• Have fun with origami, bracelet making, braiding, or weaving
• Create comics or stories with writing prompts
• Play with resistance putty to build strength – hide small beads in the putty for a “treasure hunt”

Tip: Make fine motor skills meaningful, writing birthday cards or helping with meal-prep builds real-life confidence.

💡 Tips for Parents & Caregivers

• Focus on what your child can do, not what they “should” be doing.
• Fine motor skills grow through play, don’t underestimate activities like Play-Doh, tearing paper, or finger painting.
• Each child develops at their own pace, use these stages as guides, not checklists.

💛 When to Reach Out

If your child is struggling with tasks like holding a pencil, using utensils, dressing, or keeping up at school, pediatric occupational therapy can help. At Hand and Heart Kid’s OT, we offer in-home services in London, Ontario and virtual services across Ontario.

Contact us here to learn more or schedule a free consult.