There is no rush for little hands to write.

There is no rush for little hands to write.

I know I write that in this space again and again. And I have even created images on the topic!

Why do I keep on writing it? Because it is so important.

And if something is important to me, I’m afraid you are going to hear about it. More than once. Just ask my teenager.

Little hands need time to build and strengthen all those muscles. And little minds need time to figure out how all those muscles work.

Having little ones try to hold pencils and write too early can be very frustrating for them and can lower their self-confidence. There is even research to support that many letter reversals and improper pencil grips would not happen if writing was delayed.

So, in the meantime? We can play in a way that strengthens those little hands for future writing.

And one great way to do this is to build dexterity!

Building Hand Dexterity with Playdough

One of my absolutely favorite ways to build hand dexterity is with playdough! All of that squishing, rolling, pinching, and molding is a wonderful way to build hand strength and fine motor skills for future writing.

Below is my absolute favorite No-Cook Playdough Recipe. You cannot mess this one up!! I have all of the instructions and a fun visual recipe so your little ones can even help you make it. Your recipe will be sent to your inbox immediately, and then you will see an offer for a very special deal on my program called Play into Kindergarten Readiness! This preschool program covers all core skills with only 20 minutes of play a day.

Amazing Fine Motor Activities for Building Hand Dexterity

Slingshot Quiet Bin – This has been a favorite activity in our house for a while now! Combine science, problem solving, and lots of fine motor skills in one simple quiet time activity.

Nature Heart Crafts – Dexterity can be developed through a wide variety of arts and crafts activities. These nature hearts give fingers and hands many opportunities to develop.

Amazing Ways to Play with Wikki Stix – Kids use their fingers to create letters, cards, and pieces of art with colorful manipulatives.

Free the Frozen Beads – This is a fun sensory experience that also helps to strengthen your little one’s fine motor skills as they work to free the beads and thread them onto pipecleaners.

Confetti Cutting and Letter Art – Your little one can practice their scissor skills, build hand strength, and create some beautiful confetti art at the same time!

Toadstool Counting Cards – Clothespins are a fabulous way to build hand strength! With the Free Printable Toadstool Counting Cards, your little one will count the toadstools and clip a clothespin on the correct number.

Four Season Sensory Tree Craft – This craft will have your little one pulling apart cotton balls, scrunching tissue paper, ripping construction paper, and making dots with Q-tips as they create their four season trees.

Sew a Fall Leaf Crown – Sewing with freshly fallen leaves is a wonderful way to work on hand dexterity outdoors! We used twine and a darning needle and turned our creation into a crown afterward.

Cracking Hazelnuts or Almonds – Cracking nuts is a fabulous activity for strengthening fine motor skills, hand dexterity, improving little hand muscles, and learning about personal safety as well. 

3 Ways to Play with a Puzzle – Wrap puzzle pieces in tinfoil or secure them to the table with some painter’s tape and have your little one “rescue” the puzzle pieces! As they’re playing and exploring, the kids are getting a great chance to work on dexterity through these fine motor activities.

Threading Beads on Spaghetti from The Imagination Tree – Little fingers grasping and threading beads as they count is a wonderful way to work on dexterity alongside math.

Egg Carton Shoe Tying from The OT Toolbox – What a brilliant idea for helping kids learn to tie their shoes! An added bonus is tons of finger dexterity practice along the way.

Fine Motor Activities Using Dice from Still Playing School – Kids just love playing and learning with dice! These six ideas for using dice to work on children’s hand and finger dexterity are so simple and fun.

Pool Noodles and Rubber Bands from And Next Comes L – Stretching and moving rubber bands over pool noodles gets those little fingers working!

Watermelon Squish Bag from Fantastic Fun and Learning – Make sensory squish bags with just a few ingredients. Then, let the little ones use their fingers to explore the bags, making shapes and moving watermelon seeds around.

 

Did you know that there is no rush for little hands to write? Of course you do!

But I’m likely to tell you again. With so much noise about “sooner is better” when it comes to learning, I feel we all need this reassurance from time to time.

And so I will gently remind us both. Because truly, there is no rush. I promise.

If you want developmentally appropriate activities for your 3-5 year old planned for you day-by-day, you’ll want to check out Play into Kindergarten Readiness! The preschool curriculum covers all core preschool skills in ONE 20-minute play-based activity a day—not a worksheet in sight. It is the gentle, wholesome, and playful resource you’ve been looking for.

Take a peek at Play into Kindergarten Readiness:

https://shop.howweelearn.com/pages/play-into-kindergarten-readiness

Thank you so much for reading friends. I hope you are having a fabulous week!

xo
Sarah