Preparing Your Child For Kindergarten: Part 4

Written By: Barbie Jones, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood

Developing Fine and Gross Motor Skills

Physical readiness for kindergarten involves both fine motor skills (small movements)

and gross motor skills (large movements). These abilities support classroom activities

and playground interactions:

Fine Motor Development

Strengthen hand muscles through activities like:

● Playdough sculpting

● Using child-safe scissors

● Stringing beads

● Drawing and coloring

● Using tweezers to pick up small objects

These activities develop the coordination needed for writing, cutting, and manipulating

classroom materials.

Pencil Grip and Control

Encourage proper pencil grip by providing short crayons (you can break crayons to

make them shorter) and pencils (such as golf pencils) that naturally promote a tripod

grip. Tracing lines, shapes, and letters helps develop control and precision. When

guiding your child with drawing or tracing activities, encourage them to begin at the top

of the paper and work their way downward. This top-to-bottom approach develops

proper writing mechanics and helps establish the directional patterns they will need for

writing letters and numbers in kindergarten.

Gross Motor Activities

Large muscle development supports classroom stamina and playground success:

● Jumping, hopping, and skipping

● Throwing and catching balls

● Climbing at playgrounds

● Balancing on one foot

● Dancing to music

Self-Care Skills

Practice buttoning, zipping, and fastening shoes. These skills build independence

during bathroom breaks and outdoor transitions.

Remember that children develop at different rates. Focus on providing varied

opportunities for movement rather than comparing your child to others. The goal is to

help them feel comfortable and confident in their physical abilities.