Fine Motor Skills

Fine Motor skills are developed through practice and working small muscles in hands. These skills are necessary to work so your child can do things like dress and feed themselves, tie shoes, brush teeth and eventually use scissors and write with a pencil. Some doctors says children today have fine motor weaknesses due to more issues like tv watching. Although, I will argue that some systems like the Wii are helping kids to develop these very skills.

6 months+- you can start letting your child grab at food like puffs to practice "raking" motion and eye/hand coordination.


11 mo+- use egg crate to help child use index finger and thumb "pincer grasp."


Stacking cups and pulling them apart- let them try as soon as they can sit up and start grabbing at objects.


1 yr+- putting clothespin into bottle and dumping back out.


2 yr+- using turkey baster with water, scooping and pouring. Can also be used with uncooked rice or beans.


1 1/2+-large piece puzzles as soon as they become interested in trying to put them in place and don't put in mouth.


Practice with large crayons, chalk, large paintbrushes.


3 yr+- trying out scissors as well as using a fat pencil to trace name.

Edible Playdough with Pudding Paint

This is very yummy and easy to make! It's made with peanut butter, powdered sugar and honey. There are many variations if you don't like one of those ingredients!!


I mixed it myself because I wasn't quite ready to have it fly onto the ceiling.


Noah had fun rolling the dough out but I recommend using a plastic rolling pin that can't be used as a weapon.


I realized that I "accidentally" left all the paintbrushes at Mimi's house so we improvised. Contrary to what it looks like, those are primary colors.


Noah decided he liked all the colors mixed together. Gotta love a nice shade of browny-green.


I still thought it tasted fabulous with the pudding goop on it!!

The recipe can be found here http://www.makeandtakes.com/edible-playdough-you-will-want-to-eat

The pudding paint is simply instant vanilla pudding with food coloring.