Fishies, Bread, and Popsicle Sticks
The first time your child moves his or her foot, uses the "pincer" grip to pick up a morsel of food to feed themselves, or begins to move his or her toes or fingers, they are putting into practice their small motor skills. The "practice" that takes place is the first step to furthering their motor skill development. Both large and small skill development go hand in hand, and many, many activities can be put into practice (with your help) to further your child's coordination. Remember, coordination is learned, so we can help with many types of activities. Below are activities that can be used to "help" your little ones develope their small motor skills.
Fingerplays
Fingerplays help to develope muscular coordination, as well as body awareness, hearing or auditory discrimination, language development, (especially if music is heard), patterns for rhythm, and self esteem and confidence.
Five Little Fishies
Five little fishies swimming in a pool (hold five fingers up). The first one said, "The pool is cool" (hold one finger up, & hug yourself and shiver). The second one said, "The pool is deep" (hold two fingers up & measure depth with hands). The third one said, "I want to sleep" (hold three fingers up & rest your head on hands). The fourth one said, "Let's dive and dip" (hold four fingers up & make diving and swimming movements). The fifth one said, "I spy a ship" (hold five fingers up & look out over the water under your hand). The Fisherman's boat comes...(say this softer to louder and make a "V" with hands to resemble a boat moving out). The Line goes Ker-plunk! (say this loud and pretend to throw a fishing line in the water). Away the five fishies swim with spunk! (say this loud and wiggle five fingers away as if to swim away).
The Church
Here is the church. (fold fingers inside hands together) Here is the steeple. (keep all fingers inside except pointers (index) and form the steeple) Open the doors. (keep fingers in the same positions, only open out thumbs) See all the people. (keep in same position, just wiggle fingers on inside for people) Close the doors. (put thumbs back together) Hear them pray. (lift your hands to your ear) Open the doors. (open thumbs again) They all walk away. (pull hands apart and wiggle fingers outwards like people walking away)
Knock, Knock (my personal favorite)
Knock, knock. (gently knock on child's forehead) Peek in. (gently open the child's eye) Open the latch. (gently push up tip of child's nose) Walk right in. (gently walk fingers onto child's lips/mouth) "How do you do Mr. Chiny, chin, chin?" (gently grab and wiggle child's chin)
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