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?
For more fun snow crafts, try my Puffy Snow Paint Craft, Upcycled Sock Snowman Craft, Popsicle Stick Snowflake Craft, Cotton Swab Painted Snowman Craft, Footprint Snowman Craft, and Paper Chain Snowman Craft.
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