I often receive emails from readers asking about ways to help guide children to writing skills without shoving a pencil or crayons in their little hands. This fine motor activity not only helps develop hand-eye coordination but also jump-starts skills to aid in the writing journey.
Working fine motor skills is important but fine motor activities for infants and toddlers can be loads of fun, too. Not to mention these pre-writing skills activities are simple to put together and inexpensive.
Fine Motor Activities for Infants and Toddlers
Fine Motor Activity Materials
- Raw spaghetti
- Strainer
Fine Motor Activity Approach
- Set out the raw spaghetti and strainer
- Invite your child to the activity or allow him to discover it on his own
- Observe
Why is this activity develops fine motor skills
- Fun AND works pre-writing skills
- Requires a bit of focus and concentration
- Kids love working with pasta
- Spaghetti is interesting in itself. Watch the younger children break it. The sound and feel of the spaghetti breaking is intriguing to children.
- Spans a wide age range. My almost six-year-old, four-year-old, and my eleven-month-old did this activity together feeding their own developmental stages and needs
- Children can be creative with design (use colored pasta for even more creative fun!)
