Helping parents engage in early childhood education with their kids.

We've spent the last few weeks raving about iTrace. Parents are noticing gains in their child's ability to form letters on and off the app.

We’ve spent the last few weeks raving about this new app. Not only are we excited, but our large parent community is all abuzz about iTrace. They are noticing gains in their child’s ability to form letters on and off the app.

Read KinderTown's review of iTrace.

Just as infants and toddlers moved through many large motor developmental milestones. A similar progression occurs for fine motor development. Right through to the finest movements in the hand.

All too often, the fine motor skills get less attention due to the rush to tackle more “seemingly” academic skills. For my kids, there are attention was on running around, much to my distress. We eventually got to mastering the scissors (including the necessary concentration and perseverance that goes along with learning to cut). It just took some activities that were interesting and fun for my pack of boys.

Activity 1: Sewing

What You’ll Need:
• Wire cookie cooling rack
• Assorted colors of yarn, string, or ribbon

Lay out the wire racks and a variety of yarn, string and ribbon. Share that they can do anything they want with the materials. Work alongside them weaving through the racks. When they are interested, show the kids how to go over and above the racks to make interesting patterns and designs.

Activity 2: Tweezer Play

What You’ll Need:

• Drinking straw
• Tape
• Small assorted items around the house to pick up (pom poms, cotton balls, pasta, paper clips)
• Cup or jar

Fold the straw in half and attach tape around the folded section to make a set of child-safe tweezers. You can also find plastic tweezers at the craft stores. Many children are able to safely use adult tweezers at a young age. We just wanted you to have options.

Put out the objects you want your child to pick up out on the floor or table. Change the position your child works in each time. Laying on the belly uses a different set of fine motor muscles than tweezing while standing.

Have your child move the objects from the table to the cup. Add challenge by having your child move the objects from inside one cup to another.