Montessori Fine Motor Activities and Free Printables

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Fine motor skills are so crucial for the child to learn to write. Maria Montessori also pointed out that the development of fine motor is directly connected to the development of the brain. Many fine motor activities are practical and represent work that is usually done in real life.

“When there is motor and physical activity, you can see a more important kind of education, a kind of education that takes the force of life into account. This education is not driven by its own wisdom, but by another superior wisdom that lays down the law that, if we do not take the vital force into account, we miss the best part of education. ” Maria Montessori


“Summing up, we may say that the two mechanical factors of writing are resolved into two independent exercises, that is, drawing, which gives the hand the ability to handle the writing instrument, and touch the letters of the alphabet, which serves to establish a motor memory along with a visual memory of the letters. ” Maria Montessori The Discovery of the Child


“When we give the child the possibility to fix his attention in an orderly fashion upon some objects which also permit a motor exercise, we give such clearness to the mind of the child. This clearness gives a new fascination and a new impulse, a new mode of observation. ” Maria Montessori The Montessori Approach to Music

Fine Motor Activities for Kids

This is the reason why it is quite simple for parents and teachers to create practical fine motor learning experiences – most of the time they use objects and things found at home and everyday items. Also, playing with blocks and playdough and plasticine activities, painting, and drawing help children exercise their finger muscles. 

Fine Motor activities can be divided into several different types. Let’s have a look at some examples of matching, grading, playing instruments, and sorting. Simple grains, buttons, small manipulatives like beads, and marbles will do a great job. These types of activities always must be done with adults’ supervision as they can become a choking hazard.

It is always important to keep in mind that fine motor activities often contain small parts or rounded objects. Such activities should never be offered to young children under the age of 3.

Spooning and transferring are always loved by children. You often can spot gorgeous ceramic, wooden bowls and plates, small baskets, and jewelry boxes together with chopsticks and beautiful spoons used to make these activities more attractive. Generally, you can purchase many of these items in thrift shops and markets. Water fine motor exploration is also a lot of fun for kids. 

In addition, the metal insets, stencils, puzzle piece tracing, and art activities for kids – are a few more examples of different ways to develop and build fine motor skills.

Here are some examples of fine motor exercises you may like to try in your classroom and at home.

child playing with fine motor toy
photo:canva.com

Peg activities with different color pegs are perfect for the youngest learners aged 2 and up for learning colors and simple patterns.

child with puzzle
photo: canva.com

Puzzles with little knobs are perfect for preparing little fingers for holding a pencil.

child playing with color sand
photo: canva.com

Fine motor activities can be incorporated into sensory play with colored sand on the acrylic mirror. Adding figurine animals creates an additional opportunity to learn new vocabulary.

child playing with sand
photo: canva.com

Kinesthetic sand is another form of sensory play that helps develop muscle on little fingers. It is a great motivator for children to develop habits of long uninterrupted independent play.

geoboard
photo: canva.com

Geoboards are loved by children aged 5-7. They learn to create patterns and build shapes using rubber bands.

child painting
photo: canva.com

Painting is not just an effective rewriting activity, it is also great for children’s mental health and self-expression. It may often get neglected as it can be quite a messy exercise. Yet it is a great opportunity to teach children to take care and clean after they finish painting.

child sowing
photo: canva.com

Children aged 4 and up may enjoy sewing in a small group under patient guidance. It is a perfect activity for little fingers and for practicing extended concentration.

child cooking
photo: canva.com

Cooking and food prep train little fingers and encourage children to exercise their hand-eye coordination and creativity and boost self-esteem.

child cooking
photo:canva.com

child making cookies

child cooking

child playing with playdough

Play dough and clay invitation to play is a wonderfully relaxing activity children are happy to do daily. They can draw their inspiration from their surroundings or from nature. Clay creations can be hardened and decorated with small parts. They make beautiful keepsakes.

child playing with clay

child drawing

We use drawing with young children for their self-expression and self-regulation before they learn to write. It’s a great outlet for their emotions and a mirror to the child’s inner world.

child playing with large screw driver

Large screws and bolts are especially exciting for boys. These are great tools to help them exercise their wrists and hand-eye coordination.

child stacking pasta pieces

Every classroom and house has items that can be easily adapted to serve this goal of creating fine motor activities for young children.

child playing with lego

Building blocks help children develop their patience and coordination, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

child using tongs

Children aged 5 and up may enjoy creating mosaics and tweezers to help them strengthen their fingers and hand-eye coordination.

Fine motor free and paid printables and Resources

fine motor toys for kids montessori nature recommendations hands on activities preschool learning


MORE Free Printables From Montessori Nature


  About Anastasia. Anastasia is a former Early Childhood Teacher and the founder of Montessori Nature, a blog about Montessori - inspired and Nature-based explorations. She taught in a Montessori setting for 10 years and has been practicing the Montessori way of learning and living for the last 20 years. She loves designing engaging educational printables for children. Browse Anastasia's educational resources on Teachers Pay Teachers.


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