FUN & FUNCTIONAL FINE MOTOR ACTIVITIES
AND
HANDWRITING AT HOME
Suggested Activities
20 questions, with writing - One player chooses an object and the other player needs
to guess through yes/no questions, only in writing.
Dice games - Have an opening sentence to a story. Then on each one’s turn roll dice,
however many dots you have is how many words you can contribute to a progressive
story.
Wish list, shopping list - Simple lists of family members, preferred games, TV shows or
favorite activities are helpful. Circle food items in the grocery advertisements and ask
your child to write a shopping list from them. Write a list of items to pack for vacation.
Free Things for Kids to Write Away For” (search through google)
http://www.deliverbooks.com/440.htm Approximately $4.00.
Consider mailings for free merchandise - Small booklets and cereal boxes often list
simple merchandise available through written request and a self-addressed, stamped
envelope. Children with parental permission could write letters and mail away for free
items. Also crayola.com may be a source for activity ideas.
Weekend/daily plans in writing - Have the child write on a calendar the important
family events, outings, and activities. Refer to it often to assist the child with a sense of
time and schedule.
Write letters/cards to friends and family.
A. Encourage Note Writing. Notes can be written for many different occasions. Your
child can write a note to other family members when he/she accompanies the parent
on errands and needs to notify others. When making requests, the child writes a note
to the parent - e.g. “I’d like to go on a bike ride!” “May I have a friend over?” Thank you
notes and greeting cards for birthdays or holidays provide another venue.
B. Encourage developing a pen pal. A pen pal in a neighboring state or a distant
country is fun and rewarding for students.
C. Provide letter writing to celebrities. Most children have a favorite author,
musician, or sports hero. Finding the address can be done by the parent or the child
with parental support. The child composes the letter, addresses the envelope and
mails it.
Make signs for bedroom or locker.
To practice address writing – self-address a postcard with drawing or other writing, to
be sent back home.
“Go Fish for Words” (cut out paper fish, write a word on each fish, and place paper clip
on each fish.) Using a “fishing pole” (a small stick, string, and magnet tied to the end of
the string), go fishing for words. Once fish is caught, write the word on paper or write a
sentence using that particular word.
Promote writing during bath time. Practice spelling words and letter formation during
bath time with shaving cream on the tiles, or special bath water colors.
Practice letter forms in Tic-Tac-Toe. When acquiring new letter forms, practicing them
in a Tic-Tac-Toe grid can be a fun way to reinforce correct letter formation.
Reinforce letter forms with crossword puzzles. Create simple crossword puzzles with
letters that the child is learning or has mastered. (do not use letters not yet mastered)
Graph paper works well for this activity.
Encourage writing cartoon conversations. Using an old comic or cartoon, delete the
conversation between characters and duplicate. With the new copy children can write
dialogue in the conversation bubble. Children may also want to create their own
cartoons.
Send jokes. A child can look up jokes from a book in the library, write them out and
send them to a friend through the mail or the internet, or share with the family.
Allow your child to write return addresses. Ask your child to write the family name
and return address on envelopes for bills and correspondence being mailed.
Ask your child to write out phone messages. Have your child write down names and
phone numbers from an answering machine. This provides dictation practice,
developing auditory processing as well as handwriting.
Assist your child with a daily journal or a travel journal. When your family goes on a
trip or visit, have the child keep a journal or diary about the day’s events, people met,
and sites seen. This can be incorporated into a scrapbook.
Practice writing in a scrapbook. Keeping a book of memorabilia (e.g. special
drawings, recital programs, photographs) and writing captions for them are great ways
to record memories and practice handwriting.
Photo Album. Use a camera to create a photo album/picture journal with added written
comments.
Board Games. These provide opportunity to follow rules, follow sequences of steps,
strategizing and practicing social skills.
The following websites provide a variety of activities and additional
resources. There are many more on the web.
www.abcteach.com
www.first-school.ws
www.education.com (activities)
www.members.tripod.com/~imaware/fmotor.html
www.crayola.com/
www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/index.htm
www.spelling.com
http://multimediadesignbysandy.com/forkids.html
www.familyeducation.com/home
www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts
http://hobbyscience.com
www.dltk-kids.com/type/index.htm
http://www.craftsforkids.com/projects.htm
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