Hello mammas and educators,

If you need some time for yourself or you have to do some chores in the house, and don't have an idea what activity to set up for your little one, maybe this will help!

It's such an easy activity to prep and the materials that we need to make this are quite basic. If you have a toddler, then I guess you'll have crayons, colored paper and playdough around. If not, you can always improvize.

All you need to do is to use a marker pen and draw a Chicken on a paper. Do this three times and you'll have one sheet of paper for every activity described down below.

I used the colors (yellow, orange, red) to indicate him what colors to use and where. Bassically, this activity is also a Color Learning Activity.

But first, WHY Coloring, Glue Using and Playdough are good for Fine Motor Skills development?

Well, it's obvious, actually. When the kid exercise his hand and fingers muscles to do any of these three activities (holding a pen in his hand, using the glue,keep it with histiny fingers and then breaking the playdough in small peaces and put it on the paper) that's what fine motor skills mean.

The ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands and wrists.

These movements come so naturally to most people that we usually don’t think about them.
They involve the coordinated efforts of the brain and muscles, and they’re built on the gross motor skills that allow us to make bigger movements.

Children need fine motor skills to do things like:

• holding a pencil or scissors
• writing
• cutting
• threading beads
• playing with Legos
• buttoning up their coat and finally dressing themselves
• eating
• hygiene (cleaning teeth, brushing hair, toileting).
  

Any activities that make children to better use their hands and fingers are considered Fine Motor Skills Development Activities.

Touch, Grasp, Hold, Squeeze, Shake, Transfer these are all actions that build Fine Motor Skills.

1.Chick Coloring

You only need crayons. Or you can use paint instead.

I had at home those eyes so I thought to glue one. It's more animated this way but if you dont have these, you can make the eye yourself with a black marker.

2.Playdough Chick

You need playdough, that's all. And those tiny little fingers will do the rest. They have to match playdough with color on the paper.

This is where those fine motor skills are worked on! One by one, they have to take tiny amounts o playdough and press it on the paper. They will try their best with this one!

They can also use complementary tools, if you have any! We used a playdough roller.

3. Glue and create the Chick

For this activity, you need colored paper and glue.

If your kid is older, she/he can use the scissors and cut themselves the paper into tiny squares. They don't have to be perfectly the same size.

You can use something else instead of colored paper like crepe paper, different textile materials or even flowers, leaves, feathers, buttons, whatever that can be glued on the paper.

This is what we did when my boy was about 2yrs and a few weeks. You can adapt it for your child base on his/her needs and skills.

Also, feel free to use your imagination and create easy and fun worksheet activities based on what you have home.

And the most important thing to consider is that something your child is crazy for! For example, my child is obsessed with numbers. If your child loves elephants, then draw an elefant. If your child loves ballons, then....you'll draw ballons! You get the point! Always consider taking advantage about the kid's hobby and their favourite things.

They will be more active involved in learning activities if they like it and consider it fun or interesting.

Have fun,

Missdeli _{(and a toddler)}