30 Verbs That Promote Fine Motor Development

Recently, there has been a number of pins floating around Pinterest about how to include fine motor skills in your home, tot or preschool.  I have an entire board dedicated to fine motor skills and another to gross motor skills as both are so important in preparing a child for formalized writing.

Developing fine motor skills is developmentally important for babies, toddlers, preschoolers as it strengthens the small muscles in the hands and wrist, allowing more ease in learning how to hold a pencil to write.  Children who can use traditional writing supplies with ease tend to enjoy writing more than those who don’t, which also means that children who experience ease in writing will also do more of it.  And, that is a good thing, right?  So, as a parent and educator I’m always looking for ways in which I can include fine motor practice in my preschool.   I sat down one afternoon and came up with a list of thirty verbs (as in action words) to describe fine motor practice.

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• scooping
• pouring
• transferring
• lacing
• cutting
• tracing
• pinching
• squeezing
• tonging
• tweezing
• sprinkling
• weaving
• twisting
• beading
• squirting
• rolling
• poking
• linking
• tying
• peeling
• picking
• sewing
• stacking
• placing
• tearing
• crumpling
• popping
• wrapping
• pushing
• turning

Now, with this list in mind, you have a wide range of ideas of how to include fine motor practice in your home, tot, or preschool.  If you feel like you’re in a rut, and offering the same activity over and over again, choose a verb from the list and create an activity of your own.

For example, the last  verb on the list is turning.  Children can practice turning keys in locks or door knobs.  Another on this list is squeezing.  Children can practice squeezing play dough between their fingers, or using kitchen tools, like a lemon juicer.  Another example if peeling.  Children can develop their fine motor skills by peeling stickers, or peeling hot glue off pieces of wood.

The possibilities are endless!  To keep you reminded of the possibilities, I have created a printable.  Click 30 Verbs That Promote Fine Motor Development Printable.

Enjoy!