It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, fine motor games, activities, and learning ideas are perfect for preschoolers! One of my favorite times during the year to bring out all of the must-try preschool activities is during the warm, summer months. The summer themes are fun and engaging, and preschoolers love to be able to play outside! This is why our hands-on summer fine motor preschool activities are the perfect additions to your summer planning.
Summer Fine Motor Preschool Activities
When it comes to summer preschool planning, there are many things to take into consideration. A lot depends on if you’re at home with preschoolers or teaching in the classroom. And then don’t forget about the weather! If it’s 100 degrees outside, the learning fun will have to take place inside. But where ever you are working with preschoolers this summer, these hands-on learning ideas are for you! Your little learners will love the summer fine motor preschool activities below.
The activities you will find will include quick set-up activities, crafts, or games, fine motor printables, as well as sensory and science play!
Summer Snacks
Watermelon Seed Sweep Up (from Club Preschool): Use a tray or shallow bin for this activity. Using masking tape or painters tape, create a taped square at the bottom of the bin. Scatter dried black beans as watermelon seeds around the tray. With a wide paint brush or small handheld broom, sweep and move the pretend watermelon seeds into the square. Work on controlling the beans to make sure they all make it in the square. Scatter the beans and play again!
Summer Snacks Learning Ideas:
Ice Cream Toppings Sensory Bin
Watermelon Fine Motor Shape Cards
Fun at the Beach
Shark Teeth (from Club Preschool): On the sidewalk, draw a huge shark with chalk. Make sure the shark has an open mouth. Use chalk to add sharp, triangular teeth in the shark’s mouth. Focus on smaller movements to make sure each tooth has a point. Count to see how many teeth in total the shark has. Consider drawing different sized sharks down the sidewalk and add teeth to each one!
Paper Plate Jellyfish (from Preschool on the Go): Cut a paper plate in half. Paint or color the paper plate. Gluing tissue paper squares to the paper plate would work too! This is the jellyfish’s body. With the cut side at the bottom, add eyes to the jellyfish. You can draw circles on paper for your preschooler to cut out and glue on. To make the jellyfish tentacles, add long pieces of crepe paper streamers, ribbon, or even newspaper strips to the back to the jellyfish body. When everything is dry, hang the jellyfish to display! Consider making 2 jellyfish because you are only using one half of the plate for each one!
Fun at the Beach Learning Ideas:
Playing Outside
Catching Fireflies (from Club Preschool): Spread yellow pom poms or cotton balls around the table as pretend fireflies. Use kid-friendly squeezers (or even clothespins) to catch and pick-up one firefly pom pom at a time. Drop each on into a jar. Count to see how many you were able to catch!
Shaving Cream Pond (from Preschool on the Go): Spread shaving cream all over a table or tray. Shaving cream may not be save for all surfaces. With your finger draw a big pond shape on the table in the shaving cream. Make the pond on the bigger side towards the edge of the shaving cream all around. Inside the area of the shaving cream pond, have your preschooler write letters or words. Give your child letters to write. Each time a letter is written is given, write it inside the pond. Keep writing letters until the pond is full. Rub the shaving cream to erase and then play again!
Play Outside Learning Ideas:
Ladybug Counting Window Stickers
You will want to check out the list of our all time favorite fine motor tools and toys!