• FINE MOTOR SKILLS:

          The development of fine motor skills is an important part of your child’s experience in preschool. Children have opportunities to strengthen small muscles in their hands through coloring, painting, manipulating small objects and using scissors. A child’s grasp on writing utensils typically develops between the ages of three to six. A tripod, or three finger grasp, is a mature and efficient grasp for children to use when learning to write in kindergarten. Allowing your child time to play outdoors to build large muscles is essential to the development of fine motor skills. Recess and movement activities strengthen shoulder and trunk muscles, allowing for good postural control. Having good postural control is needed for participation in seated work in school. 
     
     
    ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE A TRIPOD GRASP
    ·        Use an eye-dropper with colored water for coloring.
    ·        Play spinning games with various tops.
    ·        String beads, noodles, straw segments, paper clips, etc.
    ·        Thread plastic yarn needles and sew in lacing cards.
    ·        Roll small balls of clay, play-doh, or paper between thumb, index and middle fingers, keeping ring and pinky fingers flexed and still.
    ·        Rapidly turn over cards, checkers, coins without sliding them to the edge of the table
    ·        Flick coins, ping pong balls, tiddly winks with thumb and index finger into a cup.
    ·        Bring thumb to touch the base or tip of a specific finger-with eye open and with eyes closed.
    ·        Use stickers to make pictures and designs.
    ·        Draw, paint, color on a vertical surface, using non-dominant hand to support the paper.
    ·        Hide small objects in putty or clay and pull out with fingers.
    ·        Use clothes pins to pick up small objects or attach to edge of paper, cup or can.
    ·        Use a spray bottle to erase lines on a dry-erase board. 
     
    Homemade Play dough
    2 cups flour
    3/4 cup salt
    3/4 to 1 cup colored water (use food coloring)
    1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    How to make:
    1.   Mix all ingredients
    2.   Knead until consistency is smooth
    3.   Keep in refrigerator
     
     
     
     
     
    Cooked version:
    1 cup flour
    1/2 cup salt
    2 teaspoons cream of tartar
    1 cup water (with food coloring)
    1 tablespoon oil
     
    How to make:
    1.   Mix all ingredients
    2.   Cook over medium heat until ball forms and it becomes translucent rather than milky.
    3.   Knead
    4.   Store in plastic bowl in refrigerator
     
    Gook (play doh)
    Liquid corn starch
    White Elmer’s Glue
    How to make:
    1.   Mix the two items until it has a thick slippery feeling
     
     
     
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