The Georgia Early Learning Standards Activity Guides may - gapitc

Fine motor skills
Activities and Strategies
for Development
Writing Center
Have a place in your classroom with baskets of large, colored markers, crayons,
and paper.
Sit with the children and model how you hold the marker while writing on
the paper.
Notice how three year olds begin to hold the marker between their thumb and
first two fingers, rather than in their fist like toddlers, to make lines and circles.
Encourage them to “write” or draw freely on the paper.
Provide small pieces of chalk or broken crayons to encourage the use of the
tripod grip.
Circle Time for Fingers
At Circle Time, show the children how to make a circle by touching the tip of
their thumb to the tip of their first finger. Encourage them to copy your motions
with one hand.
Have the children “open circle, close circle” several times.
Repeat the same movement with each finger ending with the pinky finger.
Repeat the activity with the other hand.
Cut Up
Slide chairs away from a table.
Tape strips of paper to the edge of the table so they are hanging half way
to the floor.
Encourage the children to try to cut the paper from the bottom up using
safety scissors.
Watch the children naturally put their thumb in the correct cutting position!
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