Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers

We love tangerines in our house. What can I say? They are wonderful fruit for so many reasons. The color, textures, taste, built-in fine motor sensory activity, and, of course, the health benefits.

[On that note, the recommended age for giving citrus to your babies is 12 months. That is when we started even though our pediatrician told us we’d be ok starting earlier. There are potential issues, like rashes, that come along with giving citrus too early.]

Fine Motor Sensory Activity for Toddlers with Fruit

Fine Motor Activity – the small size and a looser peel makes a happy toddler and an effective practical life mobility exercise.
Health Learning – Tangerines are filled with so much goodness! Recent research tells us that tangerines help prevent obesity, type two diabetes, and diseases that cause heart attacks and strokes. With that said, take the time to explain these qualities to your child. A great learning opportunity!
Sensory Learning & Exploration – Allow your child the opportunity to explore the fruit. The sensory learning is abundant from the texture of the peel, the color, the juice of the body, and the taste giving your child an automatic sensory explosion
Early Math Lesson – it’s always a good idea to split up a tangerine. So you start with a whole and split it into two halves then into segments. Bam! You’ve got your math lesson! Try the book Each Orange Had 8 Slices as an add-on. Very cute and introduces the basics of math plus a little more, even multiplying.
Language Development – Label and describe everything about the tangerine and the sensory exploration.

More Fine Motor Sensory Activities for Toddlers

1. Sensory Bin with Small Objects

What You Need: A bin filled with dry rice or beans, and small objects like toy cars, buttons, or beads.
Activity: Have your toddler search through the sensory bin to find the hidden objects. They can pick up the small objects with tweezers or fingers to enhance fine motor skills.
Variation: Add scoops and containers for pouring and filling.

2. Play Dough Play

What You Need: Play dough and various accessories (plastic scissors, rolling pins, cookie cutters).
Activity: Let them roll, pinch, and cut the play dough into different shapes. This strengthens hand muscles and improves coordination.
Variation: Add beads or pasta for pressing into the dough.

3. Pasta Threading

What You Need: Uncooked pasta (e.g., penne or rigatoni) and a piece of string or pipe cleaner.
Activity: Show your toddler how to thread the pasta onto the string or pipe cleaner. They can create a simple necklace or bracelet.
Variation: Use colorful pasta for an added visual element.

4. Pom Pom Transfer

What You Need: Small pom poms, tongs, and a muffin tin or egg carton.
Activity: Have your toddler use tongs to transfer pom poms into each compartment. This activity helps with pincer grip and hand-eye coordination.
Variation: You can add a color sorting challenge if the pom poms are different colors.

5. Sticker Peeling and Placing

What You Need: Stickers and a sheet of paper.
Activity: Give your toddler a set of stickers to peel and place onto the paper. Peeling the stickers helps build fine motor strength.
Variation: Try using small stickers or create a themed scene (e.g., animals, vehicles).

6. Sensory Bag Squishing

What You Need: A resealable plastic bag, hair gel or clear dish soap, small toys or buttons.
Activity: Fill the bag with hair gel and small toys, then seal it tightly. Let your toddler squish and move the objects around in the bag.
Variation: Add glitter or food coloring for visual appeal.

I’m not going to lie to you, there are days when my two-year-old is only interested in the juice and thus the rest ends up getting spit out (hopefully on a plate or in the compost). That’s ok in my book.

Want more? Check out Mindfulness Activities for Kids.

Happy eating, learning, and playing!
Marnie