Fine Motor Archives - I Can Teach My Child!

Alphabet Parking Lot: Matching Capital and Lowercase Letters

May 20, 2013 by Jenae — 6 Comments

One of the boys’ favorite things to play with is cars. They spend hours playing with their assortment of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars. Little Brother used to be the only car lover, but he has now passed along his love for cars to his Big Brother.

I was able to harness their love for cars into a fun activity where they can play and learn simultaneously! This has definitely been a hit…and I’m planning to leave it up for a while so that they can continue to play with it!

Here’s what you’ll need: tape (I used some extra washi tape I had, but you could also use masking tape), scissors, and toy cars.

1. Cut pieces of tape into 2-inch segments. You’ll need 28 pieces of tape.

2. Lay a long piece of tape along the wall and then make your “parking spaces” using the 2-inch pieces of tape.

3. Write capital letters on small pieces of tape and add to each parking space.

4. Write lowercase letters onto small pieces of tape and add them to the tops of your toy cars.

5. Let your child start “parking” the cars in their corresponding space.

Check out more alphabet activities here and on our Pinterest board!

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Filed Under: 3-5 years, Alphabet, Fine Motor, Language Development, Reading, Transportation Thematic Unit

Sticky Salt Painting

May 15, 2013 by Jenae — 2 Comments

This was a fun, last-minute activity for both of the boys that took all of two minutes of prep time and less than 10 minutes to complete. It is similar to our salt-absorbing fireworks but uses contact paper instead of glue to hold the salt in place. The idea for this particular variation came from this month’s issue of Thriving Family magazine.

Big Brother was intrigued with this painting project because the watercolors took on a life of their own once they touched the salt. If we do this activity again, I would put more salt on the contact paper and perhaps even use eyedroppers instead of paintbrushes so that the salt doesn’t get spread around while the little ones attempt to paint.

Here’s what you’ll need: salt, contact paper, scissors, water, and watercolor paints.

1. Cut your contact paper to your preferred size. Ours were around 7 by 10 inches.

2. Sprinkle on the salt. Don’t be shy…the more salt the better! :)

We didn’t add enough salt, in my opinion. I would make sure that the entire surface had at least a layer of salt granules.

3. Fill up a cup of water and let your little one paint with watercolors.

The “growing” effect works best if you just barely tap your paint brush to the salt. Little Brother didn’t really like this approach and wanted to spread the salt all around instead.

Big Brother, on the other hand, was fascinated with the “growing” colors.

Little Brother’s art

Big Brother’s art: You can see the color trails with the black paint.

Have you ever tried painting with salt?

*Please note: Some of the links in this post are my affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

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Filed Under: 2-3 years, 3-5 years, Fine Motor, School Age

Paint Chip Mosaic Earth

April 19, 2013 by Jenae — 1 Comment

Earth Day is Monday, April 22nd. Last year we created this Earth Day project and this year we decided to try something a little more abstract–a Paint Chip Mosaic Earth. I had a few of these paint chip cards leftover from a recent painting project, but we did end up getting a few more blue paint chips to add specifically for this project.

Here’s what you’ll need: Paint chips (mostly blues, some greens, and a few browns), scissors, and contact paper.

1. Cut the paint name off each of your paint chip cards.

2. Then cut the remaining into small squares (about 1/2 inch wide).

3. Lay out a sheet of contact paper (sticky side up).

4. Draw a circle on the contact paper and then let your little one(s) get started adding the paint chip squares.

This started out as a collaborative effort, but Big Brother quickly got frustrated that Little Brother wasn’t “doing it right”, so he gave up. Perhaps we need more collaborative projects in our future so they can learn to work together. :)

5. Once your child is pleased with his/her work, cut another piece of contact paper and place it on the top (sticky side down) to sandwich the mosaic between the plastic.

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Filed Under: 2-3 years, 3-5 years, Earth Day, Fine Motor, School Age

The Power of Tracing the Alphabet

March 21, 2013 by Jenae — 8 Comments

Guest Post by Kristen of Busy Kids = Happy Mom

Hello I Can Teach My Child friends! I’m excited to share a technique I’m using with some of the little people I’m working with this year… we’re Tracing the Alphabet. I’m sharing Part I of tracing the Alphabet here and Part II on my site, Busy Kids = Happy Mom.

Why?

The tactile experience (touching the letter with your finger) is important for building a memory trace.

Research

In her book The Next Step in Guided Reading, Jan Richardson, shares how important it is to trace the alphabet. After 10 years of research, she was able to conclude that tracing is the fastest and easiest way for children to learn their letters. While individual rates of learning varied, a child who begins the tracing process knowing fewer than 5 letters took three months of tracing to learn them all!

Tracing Procedure Goal:

To teach the name of each letter and create a picture link for the letter sound. For a child who is behind, the sooner they learn the names of letters, the sooner they can participate in classroom instruction.

How often?

Every day for maximum success! I’m always surprised that students don’t mind doing this with me. We do try to get moving with a little “alphabet exercise” beforehand by jumping and singing the alphabet.

Directions for Tracing the Alphabet:

1. Identify your child’s “Reader Finger”. Make sure they are using their dominant hand (the one they write with). Do not let them switch fingers as they read.

2. Demonstrate: Starting at the top of the letter, the child uses his or her Reader Finger to trace each upper and lowercase letter in the ABC book. Say the name of each letter as it is traced, then point to and name the picture. Tip: If they need help doing it independently, you can gently guide their hand.

3. If your child does not know the name of the picture or letter, say it and have them repeat it.

4. If your child is having difficulty forming the letters, you can help them by guiding his or her hand.

Materials

Looking for something to use for tracing?

Why not make a “Who Am I?” book with your child. Bonus: Your child loves working with his favorite people… his family!

How to make a Who Am I? book, click here.

Thanks for letting me stop by! Click here to read Part II of this post, which contains links to tracing cards and other material you can use with your children to trace the alphabet.

Kristen is a Reading Specialist who currently works with children in Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. She is the blogger behind Busy Kids = Happy Mom, a site dedicated to fun, practical, and purposeful activities to do with your kids. Follow Kristen on Facebook, Pinterest, and Busy Kids = Happy Mom.

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Filed Under: Fine Motor, Guest Post, Motor Development

My First Cartoon Flipbook

February 26, 2013 by Jenae — 3 Comments

Big Brother and I decided we would attempt his first cartoon flip book today. It turned out just okay (mostly because he got tired of drawing his person after a couple cards), but it was a fun experiment nonetheless!

Here’s what you’ll need: several 3 x 5 index cards, a ruler, a pencil or pen, and a stapler.

1. Count out 14-16 cards.

2. Put the 2″ mark on a ruler on the very edge of your card. Mark a dot on every card 1/8″ closer to the end of the card. This is where your child will begin drawing the head.