👐 Home Program Activities to Support Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor play with magnetic tiles

Helping hands thrive through everyday OT strategies

Fine motor skills are the building blocks for many everyday tasks — from doing up buttons and cutting food to writing, drawing, and using technology. These skills involve the small muscles in our hands and fingers and rely on good strength, coordination, and control. When fine motor skills are underdeveloped, tasks that seem simple can feel frustrating, slow, or even impossible.

Occupational therapists work with clients of all ages to develop fine motor skills through purposeful, graded activities. A strong home program helps build consistency and allows skills to generalise into daily life. Below are some engaging activity suggestions, grouped by age, that you can start using today to support fine motor growth at home.

👶 Preschool Fine Motor Activities

Preschool is the perfect time to develop hand strength, coordination, and finger isolation through sensory-rich play.

• Playdough pinching and rolling: Create balls, snakes, or letters with fingers only.

• Tweezer play: Use child-safe tweezers or tongs to pick up pom poms, beads, or pasta pieces.

• Sticker peeling: Create sticker scenes or use reward charts to encourage precise finger movements.

• Threading and lacing: Use large beads, pipe cleaners, or lacing cards to build bilateral hand coordination.

🧒 Primary School Fine Motor Activities

Children in primary school refine their fine motor skills to meet increased demands in schoolwork, self-care, and play.

• Scissor skills: Practise cutting along thick lines, curves, and eventually complex shapes.

• Pencil control activities: Try mazes, dot-to-dot, or tracing patterns to improve writing control.

• Lego or construction play: Build models, follow instructions, or create free play designs.

• Clothespin games: Pin pegs to cards, string lines, or colour sort using clothespins for grip strength.

👦👧 High School Fine Motor Activities

For teens, fine motor challenges may impact handwriting speed, using devices, or everyday life skills like grooming and cooking.

• Typing and handwriting mix: Alternate digital and written tasks to improve coordination and prevent fatigue.

• Functional tool use: Practise opening jars, using nail clippers, or meal prepping with manual tools.

• Crafts with precision: Try DIY projects, painting, or model-making that require controlled hand movements.

• Guitar, piano, or knitting: Musical instruments and hobbies are great for developing dexterity and finger isolation.

👨 Adults Fine Motor Activities

Adults may need support due to neurological conditions, arthritis, injury, or developmental delays affecting their fine motor function.

• Home tasks with purpose: Practise fastening buttons, preparing ingredients, or writing in a planner.

• Therapy tools: Use therapy putty, grip-strengtheners, or finger resistance bands to build hand strength.

• Adaptive strategies: Introduce aids like built-up handles or non-slip mats to make tasks easier while skills improve.

• Fine motor leisure: Encourage hobbies like gardening, puzzles, journaling, or painting to boost motivation and use of fine motor skills.

Whether your goal is better writing, dressing, or tool use, our occupational therapists create personalised plans to build fine motor confidence and function at every age.

Our waitlist is open — make a referral today:

👉 https://www.sctherapysupport.au/make-a-referral