Easy Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers

Last year I did a whole series on playing with toddlers. I loved putting that together and sharing some of our favorite ways to play. Audrey is, obviously, a little older now and some of our activities have changed a bit. When I set up an activity for her, I try to come up with simple ways to challenge her, just a little bit, to help develop her fine and gross motor skills. Today I am sharing our favorite easy fine motor activity for toddlers.

this post contains affiliate links.

EASY FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY FOR TODDLERS

SUPPLIES:

Loosely measure the elastic cord and cut a little longer than your toddler’s wrist. You want room for the beads as well as an extra inch or so for tying knots. The nice thing about the elastic cord is it doesn’t have to be an exact fit. If you accidentally cut it a tiny bit small, it’ll stretch over their wrist just fine.

Tie a couple of knots at one end of the cord and then show your toddler how to string the beads onto the elastic cord.

The first time Audrey and I did this activity she immediately picked up the beads with a pincer grasp with her fingers covering the hole in the bead. She couldn’t figure out how to get the bead onto the string this way. Using hand over hand assistance, I showed her how to hold the bead without covering the hole. After a few examples, she was able to pick up the bead, manipulate it with her fingers to make sure the hole was uncovered, and then string it on to her bracelet. It was really cool to see her figure this out!

Quick Tip: If the elastic cord is too flimsy and makes stringing the beads frustrating for your toddler, use pipe cleaners instead. They’re sturdier than the elastic cord and will still wrap around the wrist for a bracelet.

Let your toddler choose whichever colors they want to create the fun patterns they choose. For older toddlers, see if they can create an AB pattern with their beads.

We like to use alphabet beads to spell our names or phrases. Obviously I hand the letters to Audrey in the correct order and she strings them. Older preschool kids can probably do this themselves. They might like using the alphabet beads to spell simple sight words, too.

When your toddler has finished stringing their beads, tie the end to keep all of the beads in place. Then tie both ends together and let your child wear their new beautiful accessories!

Like many of our activities, this started out as just a fine motor activity. But I always try to expand on the initial idea so that we get the most out of this focused time together. In very casual, nonstressful ways, I try to incorporate some extra language development, sensory play and the most important- making special memories with my littlest girlfriend.

Some examples:

I am sure you have heard this before but a super simple way to develop language in children is by simply talking to them. Narrate what you’re doing or what you see your toddler doing. While you’re making the bracelets, talk about the colors your child is stringing on their bracelets. “Oh, wow! I love that yellow bead you picked! Which color will you choose next?” Or, have them tell you the colors they’re using. Sing color songs. Count as you string beads. Talk about the letters you’re using to spell your child’s name. “Your name is Audrey! Audrey starts with the letter A. Here’s the letter A.”

Audrey liked the way the beads felt when she grabbed a handful and then let them fall through her fingers. I didn’t want to mix up the beads in the container so I put some in a bowl for her. She liked putting her feet in there, too. Kinda strange but kids are weird.

And finally, sit beside your toddler and make a bracelet together. After Audrey got the hang of stringing the beads on her own, we each made one at the same time. Audrey chose the colors and the pattern for our matching bracelets. She grabbed a pink sparkly bead for herself and then gave me one for my bracelet. She did this over and over until our string was full of colorful beads. Now, Sister and I have matching friendship bracelets! I love to look down at my bracelet and smile thinking of how sweet she was every time she handed me a bead. “Mommy’s pink bead!” And her adorable chubby fingers so determined to string every single bead herself. And how proud she was when she did it!

This activity has been such a hit in our house lately. Noah even got in on the bracelet making. He made one for each of his teachers and one for a school friend. I thought it was so adorable that he made 3 separate bracelets for himself; one for his first name, one for his middle name, and another for his last name. Ha!

Audrey has been so obsessed with making these bracelets and I absolutely love that she is getting in some fine motor practice. Try this with your toddler and let me know how it goes! Do you have a favorite easy fine motor activity for toddlers? Let me know how you’re playing with your toddlers lately.