4 Outdoor Activities that help Motor Skills

Honing your child’s fine motor skills doesn’t have to be all about sitting indoors cutting, coloring, gluing, or doing worksheets. In fact, so often, learning and playing go hand-in-hand, leaving plenty of opportunities for you to help prepare your child for the demands of the classroom while taking advantage of sunny afternoons! With these activities, you can sneak in some fine motor skills practice while your child plays outside.Mud WritingTake advantage of your child’s love for getting dirty, and mix some dirt and water together to form a toothpaste-like consistency of mud. Then, grab a paintbrush or a stick and get to writing! Practice names, letter formation, shapes, or simply let them create a muddy masterpiece.Water WritingTake a paintbrush and a bucket of water and let your child have fun watching as the driveway changes color as they “paint” with the water. She’ll be mesmerized by the disappearing shapes as the water dries up, and she’ll have the flexibility to create pictures and writing as big or small as she likes! As an added bonus (and if you don’t mind a little mess) add some food coloring to the water and watch your child create shapes and different colors with her drawings.Sidewalk ChalkA childhood classic, sidewalk chalk is perfect for younger children learning to grip writing tools and offers easy cleanup. Encourage your child to take time drawing letters, shapes, various types of lines, create patterns, and trace shapes. You can even draw a hopscotch design and practice your child’s coordination and balance through this game!Found ObjectsMake learning fun with a bit of hunting and gathering of sticks and stones that you can then help your child form into letters and shapes.If you have an older child, have him try any of these methods spelling words, practicing math problems, or even writing in cursive. Really, the possibilities for outdoor motor skill learning are endless with these creative methods!The Orlando Catholic school's blog page has helpful hints for parents to encourage their children to excel academically, spiritually, and socially. To learn more about private schools in Orlando, contact us at 407-246-4800.