Fine motor activities during the holiday season can be fun and festive while also helping to develop and strengthen the small muscles in the hands and fingers.
I always tell myself I’m going to be more “Pinterest-Y” but I always fall short. With the holiday season coming up, what better way to make it extra special than by engaging in some festive Christmas fine motor activities with our little ones? From crafting adorable ornaments to baking delightful treats, these heartwarming activities not only spread the holiday cheer but also provide a wonderful opportunity to strengthen those tiny fingers and boost fine motor skills. So, I’m ready to roll up my sleeves, grab the glitter, and embark on a merry journey of creativity and bonding with my little elves. Get ready to witness the magic of tiny hands at work as we dive into a world of holiday-themed crafts, laughter, and cherished memories. This season, let’s celebrate the joy of giving and learning together with our holiday fine motor fun!
What Are Fine Motor Skills?
Fine motor skills refer to the coordination and control of small muscles in the hands and fingers that allow us to perform precise and delicate movements. These skills are essential for various everyday activities and tasks that require intricate hand movements and hand-eye coordination. Fine motor skills play a crucial role in performing tasks such as writing, drawing, cutting with scissors, tying shoelaces, buttoning clothes, using utensils, and many other essential activities.
What Are Some Fine Motor Holiday Activities?
Fine motor Christmas activities help children develop and improve their fine motor skills, which contribute to their overall physical and cognitive development.
Holiday Card Making
Encourage kids to create their own holiday cards using various art supplies like dot markers, colored pencils, and stickers. Cutting, pasting, and writing messages on Christmas cards are an awesome way to promote fine motor skills.
Fun Christmas card Ideas:
Super Simple Elf Christmas Card Design
Handprint Reindeer Card For Christmas
Decorating Ornaments
Provide small, plain ornaments and let children decorate them using paint, glitter, sequins, and other craft materials. Hanging the finished ornaments on the tree requires precise fine motor movements.
Looking for Inspo:
SNOWMAN & ELF BOOKMARK CHRISTMAS CRAFT
19 DIY Christmas Ornaments to Make With Kids
Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids
Stringing Popcorn or Beads
Stringing popcorn or beads onto a thread to make garlands or jewelry is a wonderful fine motor activity that can be enjoyed by all ages.
- Popcorn Garlands
- Beaded Ornaments
- Holiday Jewelry
- Beaded Snowflakes
- Popcorn Cone Trees
- Beaded Wreaths
- Beaded Candy Canes
DIY HOLIDAY CRAFT – BEADED WIRE CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT
Wrapping Presents
Wrapping gifts involves using scissors, tape, and fine motor control to create neat folds and creases in the wrapping paper. It seems like an easy enough task however, the process of wrapping presents is a great way to use small muscles in the hands and fingers.
Gift wrapping companies to shop during the holiday season.
Cutting Snowflakes
Cutting snowflakes is a fine motor holiday activity because it involves scissor skills to create intricate and delicate designs on folded paper. This craft requires precise hand movements, hand-eye coordination, and control of the small muscles in the hands and fingers. Cutting snowflakes requires steady hand movements to follow the lines and create intricate designs. It involves using scissors with precision to cut along the folded edges accurately.
Building Gingerbread Houses
Assembling and decorating gingerbread houses requires manipulating small candies and icing, providing an excellent fine motor workout. Using icing as “glue” to hold the gingerbread pieces together calls for precise squeezing and spreading of the icing, which engages fine motor skills.
Easy Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses
Easy Gingerbread House for Kids Recipe
Creating Paper Chains
Making paper chains by cutting and linking strips of paper is a classic fine motor activity that adds a festive touch to holiday decor. Folding each strip of paper and linking it together to form a loop demands precise folding and manipulation of the paper to create even loops. It’s a fun way to work on hand strength.
Threading Crafts
Creating holiday-themed threading crafts, such as threading jingle bells onto pipe cleaners or threading beads onto a string, helps refine hand-eye coordination.
Baking Cookies
Baking cookies together is something we do year-round not just during the Christmas season. It’s one of our favorite fine motor activities. Rolling out dough, using cookie cutters, and decorating cookies with icing and sprinkles all involve fine motor skills. Shaping the dough into balls or using cookie cutters to create various shapes calls for precision in handling the dough and forming uniform cookies.
Christmas cookies to make with young children:
THE BEST M AND M CHRISTMAS COOKIES
GLAZED GINGERBREAD CHRISTMAS COOKIES
Writing Letters to Santa
The tradition of kids writing letters to Santa Claus is an old and heartwarming practice that has been cherished for generations. Encourage kids to write their letters to Santa, practicing handwriting and fine motor work in the process. This festive activity not only fosters creativity and imagination but also promotes the development of essential writing skills. Writing letters to Santa is an excellent opportunity for children to engage in meaningful fine motor practice while embracing the joy and magic of the holiday season
Folding Origami Decorations
Engage in the art of origami to create delicate and intricate holiday decorations.
Tying Bows
Teach children how to tie bows to decorate gifts or wreaths.
Putting Together Puzzles
Puzzles are such a great activity year-round. But during Christmas time, we love doing our Peanut puzzles. Completing holiday-themed puzzles challenges fine motor control and spatial awareness.
Playing with Playdough
Manipulating playdough using the pincer grasp to create holiday shapes and figures supports the development of fine motor skills. Playing with play dough is an excellent fine motor activity that engages and develops the small muscles in a child’s hands and fingers that we regularly use in occupational therapy.
Coloring and Drawing
Provide holiday-themed coloring sheets and activity ideas to encourage precise hand movements. As children engage in coloring, they strengthen their fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and cognitive abilities.
Christmas Printables:
Free Fun Christmas Activities For Kids – Free Printable Book
Free Christmas tree printables
My heart is filled with joy and gratitude for the precious memories I get to create with my boys. Seeing the delight in their eyes as they craft their own ornaments and make handmade cards is truly heartwarming. The giggles, the messy glitter, and the pride in their tiny accomplishments always make the holiday season memorable. But let’s remember, the magic of fine motor play doesn’t end here! Embrace the everyday opportunities to nurture those little fingers and continue fostering their creativity and dexterity. Whether it’s drawing together, stringing beads, or simply playing with playdough, every moment is a chance for growth and bonding. Remember, fine motor holiday activities not only promote fine motor skills but also offer opportunities for creativity, bonding, and holiday cheer. Whether you’re spending time with children, friends, or family, these festive fine motor activities can add extra joy to the holiday season.
So, let’s carry the spirit of fine motor fun into the coming year and keep cherishing these precious moments as we watch our little ones grow and thrive.
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