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FINE MOTOR ACTIVITIES: FEED THE ELEPHANT

March 27, 2014 By Pam Braley 8 Comments

fine motor activities

Kids will love racing to feed their elephants with these fun circus-themed fine motor grasping skills activities. Carry your peanuts using tongs instead of fingers!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: bowl or other container (see below), peanuts or penne pasta, kids tongs or scoopers

WHAT TO DO:
Set up a bowl at one end of the room to act as the elephant’s mouth. Spread out a pile of peanuts or penne pasta on a table at the opposite end of the room. Have your child race to pick up the peanuts using only their tongs and carry them across the room to place in the hungry elephant’s mouth! Don’t drop your peanut! Use those Super Fingers over and over again until there are no peanuts left!

HOW TO CHANGE IT UP:
-If your child has excellent fine motor skills, try using a paper towel roll standing upright as the elephant’s trunks instead. Make it even more challenging by having them drop the peanuts or penne into the opening of an empty soda bottle or milk jug.
-Use two spoons, chopsticks, a drinking straw bent in half, or two pencils instead of tongs.
-Too hard?  Simply spread out the peanuts on the floor or table and place the bowl right next to them!  Even just transferring them into the container using the tongs will give a workout to the small muscles of the hand.

SKILL AREAS ADDRESSED: Fine motor skills, grasp, strength, visual motor integration

 

 

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Pam Braley

Pam Braley

Pam Braley has been an occupational therapist since 1997 and has worked in several environments including pediatric inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, step down NICU, and currently school based for the past 8 years. She is a mother of two beautiful children, Jack (7) and Ella (5). Pam enjoys cooking, reading a good book, exercising including walks, yoga, and training with friends. This quote has traveled with Pam to each desk she has claimed while being an OT and helps her stay focused both in her career and as a mom.
Pam Braley

Latest posts by Pam Braley (see all)

  • 10 CLASSIC GAMES FOR THE BACKYARD - July 7, 2015
  • GAMES FOR GROUPS: HAND CLAPPING GAMES FOR KIDS - May 19, 2015
  • Activities for Kids: Movement Breaks to Help Kids Stay Alert and Focused - August 17, 2014

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities Tagged With: fine motor skills, grasp, strength, visual motor integration

Comments

  1. Josette Hyde says

    March 29, 2014 at 2:32 pm

    love your site- thanks for all the ideas

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 29, 2014 at 2:53 pm

      Thank you so much for the kind words Josette! We appreciate you following us! :)

      Reply
  2. Ashley Moore says

    March 30, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    What an adorable fine motor activity!

    Reply
    • admin says

      March 30, 2014 at 9:53 pm

      Thank you Ashley! We appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment! :)

      Reply
  3. deepti says

    July 19, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    Excellent ideas I will also try with my daughter

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The Inspired Treehouse says:
    April 16, 2014 at 8:33 pm

    […] Fine Motor Activities: Feed the Elephant […]

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    […] Tower from The MaMade DiariesFeed the Elephant from The Inspired TreehouseButton Sorting Cups from About Family CraftsPaper Ripping Activity from […]

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    May 14, 2015 at 6:56 am

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