There are many ways to promote the development of fine motor skills:

Pincer grasp - Encourage child to self-feed cereal or small tidbits using his or her fingers. Parents or caregivers can pour out small amounts of cereal/tidbits so the child can pick up the food items one at a one.

Lacing - Create a necklace of beads/cereal (fruit loops) by chaining small beads/cereal on a string. Use larger beads and a thicker thread for younger children and smaller beads and thinner thread for older children.

Tripod grasp development in preparation for writing - Promote pick-up of small items (cotton ball, cereal, small toy pieces) with use of a tong. Ensure the fingers are on the tongs and not wrapped around the tongs.

Pinch strength - Increase pinch strength in fingers by having child squeeze clothes pegs. The clothes pegs may be labeled with letters of alphabet or the child's name, and he or she can arrange them accordingly.

Hand strength - Making different items using playdoh and molds allow children to explore the use of tools and utensils in a safe and fun way. Children can make food items and pretend to cut and eat it. Manipulating the playdoh also strengthens the muscles in the hand. Plasticine and modeling clay can be used for older children too.

Development of Hand Arches - Let your child play with sand and other items where scooping with hands is required. Playing games with the use of dice is involved promotes bilateral cupping of hands to throw the dice.

All of these activities will not only prepare your child for pre-writing, it will also help your child be more independent in self-care activities such as dressing and eating. These skills are important as your child prepares to enter school.