# Fine motor

Canonical URL: https://www.kigomo.com/decks/fine-motor

Last updated: 2026-10-12T19:22:47.197Z

Small, playful hand jobs that build the grip, strength and control little fingers use to feed, dress and draw\.

Category: Toys

## Cards in this deck

### [Grab a soft washcloth](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/grab-a-soft-washcloth)

Hold a clean washcloth so one corner dangles just within your baby's reach\. When their fist closes around it, let them tug it free and wave it about\.

- Age range: Up to 2 years
- Duration: 5 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Toys
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Grasping
- Materials: Clean washcloth
- Safety note: Stay with your baby and put the cloth away afterwards so it can't end up over their face\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/grab-a-soft-washcloth/content.md)

### [Stack the nesting cups](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/stack-the-nesting-cups)

Sit together and stack or nest a set of plastic cups into a little tower, then let your baby knock it down and start all over again\.

- Age range: 6 months–3 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Toys
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Stacking
- Materials: Nesting or stacking cups
- Safety note: Use cups too large to fit in the mouth and stay within reach\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/stack-the-nesting-cups/content.md)

### [Do the finger play from a rhyme book](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/do-the-finger-play-from-a-rhyme-book)

Open a nursery rhyme book to a finger rhyme such as Where Is Thumbkin or Two Little Blackbirds\. Say the words slowly and do the hand motions in front of your toddler, then help them copy with their own hands\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Books
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Finger plays
- Materials: Nursery rhyme book

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/do-the-finger-play-from-a-rhyme-book/content.md)

### [Do the itsy bitsy spider with your fingers](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/do-the-itsy-bitsy-spider-with-your-fingers)

Sing the song and walk your fingers up your toddler's arm, then wiggle them down as the rain falls\. Next time, let your toddler walk their own fingers up your arm\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 5 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Learning
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Finger plays
- Materials: No special materials listed.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/do-the-itsy-bitsy-spider-with-your-fingers/content.md)

### [Open them, shut them, give a little clap](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/open-them-shut-them-give-a-little-clap)

Sing the Open Shut Them rhyme and let your hands open, shut, and clap\. Slow down on the last line so your toddler has time to join in\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 5 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Learning
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Finger plays
- Materials: No special materials listed.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/open-them-shut-them-give-a-little-clap/content.md)

### [Peel stickers off paper](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/peel-stickers-off-paper)

Loosen the edge of a few big stickers so your toddler can pull them off and press them onto a sheet of paper\. Talk about where each one lands\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Montessori
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Pincer grip
- Materials: Large stickers; Paper
- Safety note: Stay nearby — small stickers can be a choking risk\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/peel-stickers-off-paper/content.md)

### [Slide beads along a bead maze](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/slide-beads-along-a-bead-maze)

Set a bead maze toy on the floor and push one bead along its wire, up and over a loop\. Hand the next bead to your toddler to slide along, then count the beads at the end together\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Toys
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand\-eye coordination
- Materials: Bead maze toy
- Safety note: Choose a bead maze made for under\-3s with the beads fixed on the wires and a heavy base, and stay close\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/slide-beads-along-a-bead-maze/content.md)

### [Squeeze a squeaky toy](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/squeeze-a-squeaky-toy)

Offer a squeaky toy that fits two hands\. Squeeze it yourself to make it squeak, then guide your toddler's hands to squeeze\. Try soft and hard squeezes\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 5 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Toys
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand strength
- Materials: Squeaky toy
- Safety note: Choose a toy with no squeaker that can come out, and stop if it cracks\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/squeeze-a-squeaky-toy/content.md)

### [Stack rings on a post](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/stack-rings-on-a-post)

Set a ring stacker on the floor and give your toddler one ring at a time\. Let them drop each ring over the post, take them off again, and start again\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Toys
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand\-eye coordination
- Materials: Ring stacking toy
- Safety note: Choose rings too big to fit in the mouth, and supervise\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/stack-rings-on-a-post/content.md)

### [Transfer pom\-poms by hand](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/transfer-pom-poms-by-hand)

Set out two bowls, one full of large pom\-poms\. Show your toddler how to move them one by one into the empty bowl, then swap back\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Montessori
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand control
- Materials: Two bowls; Large pom\-poms
- Safety note: Use jumbo pom\-poms and supervise so none go in the mouth\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/transfer-pom-poms-by-hand/content.md)

### [Turn the pages yourself](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/turn-the-pages-yourself)

Hand your toddler a board book and let them turn the pages in whatever order they like\. Talk about whichever picture they stop on, even if it is the same one five times, and read the words only if they seem curious\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Books
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand control
- Materials: Board books
- Safety note: Choose sturdy board books with no loose parts\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/turn-the-pages-yourself/content.md)

### [Twinkle your fingers like stars](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/twinkle-your-fingers-like-stars)

Sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and wiggle your fingers in the air\. Open your hands wide for \\"how I wonder\\", and point up for \\"sky\\"\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 5 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Learning
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Finger plays
- Materials: No special materials listed.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/twinkle-your-fingers-like-stars/content.md)

### [Unwrap a toy wrapped in paper](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/unwrap-a-toy-wrapped-in-paper)

Wrap a familiar toy loosely in newspaper or tissue paper with one piece of tape\. Hand it to your toddler, help them find the edge, and let them tear it open\. Wrap it again and swap who unwraps\.

- Age range: 1–3 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Home
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand strength
- Materials: Newspaper or tissue paper; Tape; A familiar toy
- Safety note: Use a toy bigger than a toilet\-paper tube, skip ribbons and plastic wrap, and clear away paper scraps so they do not go in the mouth\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/unwrap-a-toy-wrapped-in-paper/content.md)

### [Drop blocks into a muffin tin](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/drop-blocks-into-a-muffin-tin)

Set a muffin tin on the floor and give your toddler large blocks or fabric balls\. Show them how to place one in each hollow, then tip the tin and start again\.

- Age range: 1–4 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Toys
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand control
- Materials: Muffin tin; Large blocks or fabric balls
- Safety note: Use pieces bigger than a toilet\-paper tube, and supervise\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/drop-blocks-into-a-muffin-tin/content.md)

### [Open the latches on a busy board](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/open-the-latches-on-a-busy-board)

Fix a board with a latch, a hook and a door to the wall or floor\. Open one together, peek at the picture behind it, then let your toddler open and close it\.

- Age range: 1–4 years
- Duration: 15 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Toys
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand strength
- Materials: Busy board with latches or doors
- Safety note: Fix the board firmly so it cannot tip\. No cords or chains longer than 30 cm \(12 in\) and no button batteries\. Check for loose or small parts, and supervise\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/open-the-latches-on-a-busy-board/content.md)

### [Pull apart big building bricks](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/pull-apart-big-building-bricks)

Press two big toddler building bricks together and hand them to your toddler to pull apart\. Once that is easy, help them line up two bricks and press them together, then build a short tower\.

- Age range: 1–4 years
- Duration: 15 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Toys
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand strength
- Materials: Large toddler building bricks
- Safety note: Use large bricks made for under\-3s, never small ones for older children, and stay close\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/pull-apart-big-building-bricks/content.md)

### [Shake out and lay a napkin flat](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/shake-out-and-lay-a-napkin-flat)

Give your toddler a cloth napkin and show them how to shake it open with both hands\. Lay it flat on the table, then smooth it with their palms\. Let them do one for each place\.

- Age range: 1–4 years
- Duration: 5 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Montessori
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Two\-handed coordination
- Materials: Cloth napkin

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/shake-out-and-lay-a-napkin-flat/content.md)

### [Squeeze a sponge between two bowls](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/squeeze-a-sponge-between-two-bowls)

Fill one bowl with a little water and leave another empty beside it on a towel\. Show your toddler how to press the sponge into the water, lift it, and squeeze it over the empty bowl\. Let them carry on until the water has moved across\.

- Age range: 1–4 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Montessori
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand strength
- Materials: Two small bowls; Sponge; Towel
- Safety note: Never leave a child alone near water, even a shallow bowl\. Use a sturdy sponge and take it away if your toddler chews it, because torn pieces are a choking risk\. Wipe spills straight away so the floor is not slippery\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/squeeze-a-sponge-between-two-bowls/content.md)

### [Tear up junk mail](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/tear-up-junk-mail)

Pull the plastic windows, plastic cards, stickers and any staples out of a few envelopes and flyers\. Show your toddler how to pinch the paper with both hands and pull, then let them tear it into big pieces and drop them in a paper bag for recycling\.

- Age range: 1–4 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Home
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand strength
- Materials: Junk mail or old paper; Paper bag
- Safety note: Remove plastic windows, plastic cards, stickers, staples, glossy paper and foil first\. Stay within arm's reach, because small pieces are a choking risk\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/tear-up-junk-mail/content.md)

### [Pound the pegs with a toy hammer](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/pound-the-pegs-with-a-toy-hammer)

Set out a pound\-a\-peg toy or a ball\-and\-hammer bench and show your toddler how to tap each peg down with the hammer\. Flip the toy over and start again, naming the colors as they go\.

- Age range: 1–4 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Toys
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Hand\-eye coordination
- Materials: Pound\-a\-peg toy; Toy hammer
- Safety note: Use a toy with pegs and hammer bigger than a toilet\-paper tube, sit on the floor, and stay close\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/pound-the-pegs-with-a-toy-hammer/content.md)

### [Zip and unzip a pouch](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/zip-and-unzip-a-pouch)

Give your toddler a pouch with a large, chunky zipper and a soft toy inside\. Show them how to hold the pouch with one hand and pull the zipper with the other, then let them open it to find the toy\.

- Age range: 1–4 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Montessori
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Two\-handed coordination
- Materials: Pouch with a large zipper; Soft toy
- Safety note: Use a toy bigger than a toilet\-paper tube, check that the zipper has no loose parts, and keep the pull tab away from the face and hair\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/zip-and-unzip-a-pouch/content.md)

### [Spoon beans between bowls](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/spoon-beans-between-bowls)

Give your child a spoon and two bowls, one holding dried beans\. Let them scoop and carry beans across to the empty bowl at their own pace\.

- Age range: 2–4 years
- Duration: 10 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Montessori
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Tool grip
- Materials: Two bowls; Spoon; Dried beans
- Safety note: Stay close — dried beans are a choking risk if mouthed\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/spoon-beans-between-bowls/content.md)

### [Thread pasta onto string](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/thread-pasta-onto-string)

Knot one end of a shoelace and hand your child dry penne to slide on, one piece at a time, until they have a necklace\.

- Age range: 3–5 years
- Duration: 15 min
- Location: At home
- Category: Montessori
- Type: Activity
- Benefit: Threading
- Materials: Shoelace or string; Dry penne pasta
- Safety note: Stay nearby — dry pasta and string need supervision\.

[Full card in Markdown](https://www.kigomo.com/cards/thread-pasta-onto-string/content.md)