Learning to use glue on small objects helps children master fine motor skills. Last winter as a snowy day craft, my daughter and I made a snowball cotton ball craft together. Picking up and dipping the cotton balls in glue helped her work on her dexterity. And I got a cute handmade craft to hang above my desk.
Materials
- White paper plates
- White cotton balls
- Nontoxic clear glue
- Scrap cardboard
Instructions
- Give your child a white paper plate and a pile of cotton balls.
- Pour some glue onto the scrap cardboard. (Mine is covered in paint from fingerpainting.)
- Dip a cotton ball into the glue.
- Press the cotton ball onto the paper plate.
- Repeat until the paper plate is covered in cotton balls to the satisfaction of the child.
For an adult, gluing cotton balls onto a paper plate might seem like a simple task. However, for a toddler mastering her fine motor skills, just such an activity helps with finger dexterity. My daughter had a great time making a snowball cotton ball craft last winter.
What other crafts help with fine motor skills?
Image Credits
Cotton Ball Snowball Paper Plate Craft © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cotton Balls, Glue, and Paper Plate © 2014 Heather Johnson
Pouring Glue on Scrap Cardboard © 2014 Heather Johnson
Toddler Gluing Cotton Balls on a Paper Plate © 2014 Heather Johnson
Snowball Cotton Ball Craft © 2014 Heather Johnson
