fine motor play

Before children learn to write they need to develop pre-writing skills. Fine motor play develops the hand skills that will be required to hold a pencil. It builds hand strength, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination. The more opportunities children have to use their hands in a variety of ways in their early years the better.
Play dough, clay, sand & water, gardening, sweeping, and carpentry offer opportunities to strengthen the upper body, shoulders, arms and wrists.
Paint brushes, pegs, hammer & nail sets, tongs, tweezers and eye droppers offer opportunities to practice the pincer grip (thumb and index finger) that is required to hold a pencil.