Crafting allows children to explore their creativity and have fun while simultaneously teaching fine motor skills like threading, fastening, buttoning or snapping, gluing, cutting, pincer grip, hand-eye coordination, and more! While doing crafts together can encourage bonding, it’s also helping your children practice skills that are essential for accuracy and dexterity. So sit down with scissors, paper, glue sticks, crayons, and markers, and have fun together while supporting important developmental milestones.
1. Button Creatures
Stringing buttons on thread or pipe cleaner helps children practice pincer grip and threading skills to make an adorable creature with easy-to-find supplies. Similar skills can also be practiced with yarn or pipe cleaners and circular cereals like Froot Loops or Cheerios. Preschoolers can also work on color and size recognition by sorting buttons into categories before they begin the craft.
2. Origami
Origami is fun for all ages, and it’s a wonderful example of a craft the whole family can do together. All you need is origami paper (although almost any type of paper will do), a book or a few instructional videos, and your hands. Children can practice cutting, folding, and applying pressure through the art of origami. Start with easier patterns to build confidence and practice dexterity!
3. Finger Painting
Nothing improves fine motor skills like a child using their own hands to push paint around a page. Waxed paper or butcher paper is the perfect medium for finger painting. You can also introduce children to the concept of mixed media art. Once they’ve used paint to create a background, they can practice cutting shapes with safety scissors and using crayons and markers to create layered designs on top of the background. When it comes to creative expression, anything goes!
4. Weaving
Weaving is a meditative activity that helps children practice balance, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination. Moving the shuttle in between the weft on the loom requires precision and enhanced fine motor control. Your child’s weavings can also incorporate buttons, fabric, ceramics, or even natural objects like sticks or seed pods. The finished art can be displayed anywhere in your home.
5. Sewing or Crocheting
Simple sewing or crocheting kits abound for children who are interested in fiber arts. Guiding the needle with the thread helps children strengthen the same muscles they use for forming letters and writing. Children can also try finger knitting for a fun craft that requires even fewer materials—just yarn and their hands.
The Gardner School Helps Preschoolers Develop Their Motor Skills
Crafts are a great way for kids to explore their creativity and have fun while developing motor skills. From string art to sewing, there are many crafts that can help kids improve their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity. The Gardner School integrates arts and crafts into our students’ daily schedules, and our families are always impressed with their child’s creativity! To explore our rich learning environment, schedule a tour to see our approach to early childhood education.