We OTs are always looking for fine motor skills activities to add into the mix! This fun Milking a Cow activity is perfect for a farm or animal theme in a preschool classroom!
Here’s a quick easy activity for hand strengthening that’s sure to get a couple of laughs too! If your children are anything like mine, they might be a little reluctant to approach a huge cow to learn how to milk it!! Instead, we’ll simulate it at home or in the classroom first, where kids feel safest!
What You’ll Need:
-Container/pitcher
-Clean rubber glove
-Water
-Needle
What to Do:
Take a needle and prick the end of one finger of the rubber glove. Depending on the thickness of your gloves, you may need to stretch the hole with the needle in a circular motion to widen the hole.
Fill the glove with water and tie the open end of the glove so that it holds the liquid without spilling.
Now the fun can begin! Allow the child to grasp and squeeze the finger downward to simulate milking a cow. You can attempt to fill a small glass with the “milk.”
How to Change it Up:
-Try thickening the pretend “milk” with some flour if it is coming out of the hole too fast. Make sure to do this in a cup prior to pouring into the glove.
-Hold the glove while the child squeezes, or if they can, encourage the child to use two hands for the activity.
Skill Areas Addressed:
Bilateral coordination, fine motor skills, grasp, hand strength
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Love this, especially for a Farm themed activity pack or week! Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you Carla!
I absolutely loved this activity.. My kids classrooms came out to our dairy farm for a field trip and of course we couldn’t let them milk a real cow so this was a good alternative to show them how it works