Fall Fine Motor Activity: Poking Pumpkins

In our recent blog post, ‘3 Quick Tips for Laying the Foundation for Handwriting,’ we discussed ways to support your child’s handwriting development. Many skills go into handwriting including hand strength, grasp, and the use of both hands working together – one hand to hold the paper and one hand to hold the pencil. Below is an activity to do with your toddler that will help develop these skills.

Materials:

• Foam Pumpkin

• Small Tool Options

  • Golf Tee

  • Toothpick

  • Cotton Swab with one end cut off

Demonstrate poking the small tools into the pumpkin and encourage your child to do the same. Using colorful toothpicks or golf tees can add a splash of color, If you are feeling extra crafty, you could provide a small amount of paint and dip the cotton swabs in paint and decorate the pumpkin as well.

Skills Addressed:

• Hand strength to push small tool into pumpkin

• Grasp development on small tool

• Using both hands – one hand to hold the pumpkin in place and one to hold the small tool