Young children learning to write benefit from experiences that support the development of fine motor skills in the hands and fingers. Children should have strength and dexterity in their hands and fingers before being asked to manipulate a pencil on paper.
Here are some fun activities children can do at home to develop these important skills.
Home Activities to Improve Fine Motor Skill Development
1. Attach a large piece of drawing paper to the wall. Have the child use a large marker and try the following exercises to develop visual motor skills: Make a letter, number, or letter part (stroke) model— one per sheet of paper. Have
the child trace over your line from left to right, or from top to bottom. Have them trace over each figure at least 10 times. Then have the child draw their figure next to your model several times.
2. Play “Connect the Dots.” Again make sure the child's strokes connect the dots from left to right, and from top to bottom.
3. Trace around stencils. The non-dominant hand should hold the stencil flat and stable against the paper, while the dominant hand pushes the pencil firmly against the edge of the stencil. The stencil must be held firmly.
4. Attach a large piece of felt to the wall, or use a felt board. The child can use felt shapes to make pictures. Magnetic boards can be used the same way.
5. Have the child work on a chalkboard doing the same kinds of tracing and modeling activities as suggested above.
6. Paint at an easel. Some of the modeling activities as suggested above can be done at the easel.