Session 6: Fine and Gross Motor

Burlington Public Schools Early
Childhood Information Series:
Session 6
Fine and Gross Motor Activities
www.beccinformationseries.blogspot.com

Fine Motor
-Fine motor control and hand strength are important to young children as they learn to grasp small
objects, fasten clothing, and pre-writing.
-Fine motor development is essential in not only play and writing tasks but ease in allowing children to
become more independent as well.

Handwriting Without Tears
-Aim and Scribble
-Mat Mat
-Lines and Curves
-Diagonals
-Shapes/Numbers
-Terminology(Big Lines/Little Lines)
-Using your hands in a controled way

Handwriting Without Tears Tools
-Newsletter (Frog Jump Gazette)
-HWT app on ipad (wet dry try)
-songs (pick a crayon, tap big line, mat man)
-give a defined space/starting and stopping points

Fine Motor Progression

Fine Motor at Home
-Playdough/Theraputty Activities
-Roll like a hot dog and cut with a scissor into small pieces
-Hidden Treasure (put small objects hidden in putty and have child find them)
-Making munchkins /Donuts
-Stringing Beads
-Squeezing water with little sponges
-Picking up tiny objects like beads, beans, small sponges
-Writing on paper on an incline or paper on a wall(vertical surfaces)
-Pom Pom Pick up game
-Cutting fun materials such as straws, yarn, playdough
-Painting with Q Tips, cotton balls, acorns, and dandelions
-Putting Straws in grated cheese containers
- Using clothespins

Gross Motor
-Strength and stability throughout the trunk and shoulders set the foundation for fine motor.
-Gross Motor activities can assist in developing fine motor skills.
-Increasing gross motor skills are important in enabling children to perform everyday functions such as
standing, walking, running, and sitting upright.
-It can also include eye hand coordination skills such as throwing, catching, or kicking a ball.
-Other factors in gross motor can include motor planning, coordination, balancing, crossing midline,
endurance.

Gross Motor Activities
-Washing the Car
-Hopscotch
-Animal Walks
-Pulling a wagon
-Take the stairs instead of escalators when possible
-Jump over objects such as a sprinkler, chalk lines, tape lines, hula hoops, etc.
-Running and Jumping
-Obstacle Courses
-Swimming