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Fine motor skills is the coordination of small muscle movements, usually found in the hand and fingers. The efficiency of these muscles influences how well a child can complete tasks such as doing up a button, cutting with scissors, writing their name with pencils and more. Fortunately fine motor skills can be developed simply by completing tasks such as those I share below.
cutting paper hair on cardboard dolls

Cutting paper hair on cardboard dolls

February 25, 2019 by Kate 11 Comments

I’ve spotted this idea floating around Pinterest and pinned it many times as something to try with Boo (aged 4 years). Finally got to it and this cutting paper hair on cardboard dolls activity didn’t disappoint. When I was young I used to love playing hair salons with my neighbours. This reminded me of that. […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, Art & Craft, Craft, Fine Motor, Uncategorized Tagged With: fine motor, paper craft, scissors

catapult diy

How to build a catapult using craft sticks

October 1, 2018 by Kate 1 Comment

It’s surprisingly very simple to learn how to build a catapult using craft sticks and a few other bits and pieces. Once you’ve made one you’ll find your child testing it out and discovering all sorts of answers to their questions.  Making a catapult has certainly been on my ‘to do list’ for a very […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Fine Motor, Science Tagged With: craft sticks, fine motor, science, STEM

cardboard and straws for fine motor development and fun for kids

Fine motor threading activity using straws and cardboard tubes

May 4, 2018 by Kate 45 Comments

You know me, I thought I’d share with you a fun and educational activity that is also great for recycling some of the everyday things you might already have in your home. This is a simple, fine motor threading activity using straws and cardboard tubes.  Fine motor threading activity using straws and cardboard tubes Ever […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, busy bag, Fine Motor, Indoor play Tagged With: cardboard, fine motor, preschooler, recycling, straws, threading, toddler

feature image cut and paste

Simple cut and paste collage art activity for toddlers and preschoolers

April 24, 2018 by Kate 2 Comments

Try this simple cut and paste collage art activity for toddlers and preschoolers. It’s wonderfully open-ended and it helps develop basic skills in using scissors and more.    Just because an activity is simple to set up doesn’t mean it isn’t fun and educational for children. There should be no shame. These types of activities […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Art, Fine Motor Tagged With: art, collage, loose parts, preschooler, scissors, toddler

kids cup weaving craft gift idea

Paper cup weaving craft for kids to make and gift

April 17, 2018 by Kate 15 Comments

Here is a paper cup weaving craft for kids to make and gift to a friend or keep themselves. It’s creates a decorative cup that you can store odd bits and pieces in. This craft is ideal for children of school age and you’ll find they struggle to stop at making just one.  I find […]

Filed Under: 5 - 10 years, activities for children, Craft, Fine Motor, Gift Idea, Making, Uncategorized Tagged With: fine motor, gift, school, yarn

hole punch paper and confetti

Contact paper hole punch art for kids

March 17, 2018 by Kate 4 Comments

If you’re looking for an activity or piece of art that is fun to create with your toddler or preschooler then give this a go. It’s contact paper hole punch art for kids! It was a huge hit at our house.  Contact paper hole punch art for kids So after looking at lots of awesome […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Fine Motor Tagged With: art, colours, fine motor, hole punch, paper

Spiky ball or spikey ball with loom bands and great for fine motor skills #finemotorskills #finemotor #playideas #funtoplay #lovetoplay #spikeyball #loombands #

Fine motor activity using a spiky ball and loom bands

February 13, 2018 by Kate 9 Comments

I was close to throwing them out when I found a brilliant new use for all the loom bands around my house. Setting up this fine motor activity using a spiky ball and loom bands was a huge hit with my girls and great for fine motor development.  Has the loom band craze hit your house? Possum […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Fine Motor, Play Tagged With: fine motor, preschooler

christmas bauble for kids to make

DIY sequinned Christmas bauble kids can make

December 11, 2017 by Kate 3 Comments

Christmas trees are popping up everywhere and with so many gorgeous decorations. Here is a simple DIY sequinned Christmas bauble you might like to make with your child. The sparkle on the tree and last a life time.  I’m always taken back to my childhood at Christmas when the girls and I open up my […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Art & Craft, Christmas, Craft, Fine Motor, Uncategorized Tagged With: Christmas, fine motor, preschool

Simple threading activity using cut straws and pipe cleaners

November 13, 2017 by Kate 7 Comments

When you’re looking for something quiet and productive for your children then you might want to try this simple threading activity using cut straws and pipe cleaners.    The concept is simple, children use their hands to thread various lengths of cut up plastic straws onto pipe cleaners.  That’s it. It might sound so incredibly […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, busy bag, Fine Motor, Indoor play, Play Tagged With: busy bag, indoor activity, pipe cleaner, preschooler, straws, threading, toddler

Play dough play ideas and activities for kids ebook. Simple and easy recipes and play ideas play dough.

Simple Play Dough recipes and activities ebook with printables

October 27, 2017 by Kate 5 Comments

Does your child love to play with play dough? ‘Play Dough’ the ebook is packed full of simple play dough recipes, fun activities and printable play dough mats. It is available for download today!  Play Dough: simple recipes and fun play ideas ‘Play Dough’, is an ebook that will take your child’s love of play […]

Filed Under: 0 - 12 months, 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, ebook, Fine Motor, Parenting, Printable, Sensory Play, Video Tagged With: ebook, fine motor, play dough, sensory play

fine motor egg carton activity for kids

Simple fine motor and colour sorting activity using an egg carton

October 18, 2017 by Kate 5 Comments

If you’re like me and prefer to make your own homemade toys and learning tools, try this simple fine motor and colour sorting activity using an egg carton. It took only minutes to make and it was great entertainment for my toddler. My children, Possum (aged 5.5 years) and Boo (2.5 years) absolutely love playing […]

Filed Under: 0 - 12 months, 1 - 3 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Fine Motor, Indoor play Tagged With: fine motor, pompoms

Painting on foil is lots of fun for kids

Painting on Tin Foil

October 1, 2017 by Kate 4 Comments

Giving your child the opportunity to try painting on foil can be a great alternative to offering them standard white paper. Children learn very quickly that paint on foil responds quite differently to what they are used to and that the foil medium is very fragile.  I’m all for setting up creative stations for my […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Art, Fine Motor, Indoor play, Making

How to make paper snowflakes with kids

September 11, 2017 by Kate 3 Comments

Children are fascinated with snow flakes and these square paper folded snow flakes are just beautiful and fun to make. Let me show you how to make paper snowflakes with kids. They will not stop at making just one.  I remember so clearly as a child making piles and piles of square and unique paper […]

Filed Under: 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Art & Craft, Craft, Fine Motor, Seasons, Winter Tagged With: paper, scissors, Winter

simple fine motor activity using a cardboard tube and elastic bands

Fine motor cardboard tube challenge for kids

September 6, 2017 by Kate 5 Comments

Here is a super simple fine motor cardboard tube challenge for kids! They simply need to remove the bands from the cardboard tube with their fingers. Can they get them on again?  As a busy mum with two girls, I like when things can be simple. I don’t like to over complicate things. This is […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, activities for preschoolers, Fine Motor

play dough pony beads

Threading pony beads on tree branches to build fine motor skills

August 25, 2017 by Kate 3 Comments

When your child is stuck indoors and looking for something fun to do then consider getting them to do an activity of threading pony beads on tree branches to build fine motor skills! It’s simple to set up and the decorated branches look stunning!  As our Winter season comes to an end here in Australia […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Fine Motor, Indoor play

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Welcome
Hello and welcome!
My name is Kate and I am a mum to two little girls, Possum and Boo. We have lots of fun together learning with play at home and are pleased to share some of what we do with you.
Read my about page to find out more.

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