5 Fun Summer Activities to Improve Your Child’s Fine and Visual Motor Skills

baby wearing purple onesie photo
Photo by Emma Bauso on Pexels.com

Summer is a great time to engage in fun activities with your child while also improving their fine and visual motor skills.

Here are 5 fun summer activities to improve your child’s fine and visual motor skills.

  1. Drawing and Coloring
    Encourage your child to draw and color with crayons, colored pencils, or markers.

    This activity helps to develop fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination, grasping, and control of small muscles in the hand.

    You can also encourage your child to try different coloring techniques, such as shading or blending colors, to improve their visual-motor skills.
  2. Playing with Play-Doh

    Playing with Play-Doh is a fun way to improve your child’s fine motor skills.

    This activity helps to develop hand strength and finger dexterity, which are essential for activities like writing and using utensils.

    You can also have your child create different shapes and objects with Play-Doh to improve your child’s visual-motor skills.
  3. Puzzles and Board Games

    Puzzles and board games are excellent for improving fine and visual motor skills.

    Completing puzzles helps to develop hand-eye coordination and spatial reasoning skills while playing board games improves hand strength and fine motor control.

    Encourage your child to try different puzzles and board games to challenge their skills.
  4. Outdoor Play

    Playing outside is a great way to improve your child’s gross motor skills, which are essential for overall physical development.

    Activities like running, jumping, climbing, and throwing a ball all help to develop gross motor skills.

    You can also encourage your child to engage in activities that require hand-eye coordination, such as catching and throwing a ball or a frisbee.
  5. Cooking and Baking

    Cooking and baking are excellent activities for improving fine and visual motor skills.

    These activities require precision and control of small muscles in the hand and hand-eye coordination.

    You can have your child measure ingredients, mix batter, or decorate cookies to improve their fine motor skills.

Incorporating these five activities into your child’s summer routine can help improve their fine and visual motor skills while also having fun.

Remember to provide encouragement and positive feedback to help your child feel confident and motivated to continue developing their skills. And most importantly, remember to have fun!

By incorporating these activities into your child’s routine, you can help them develop the skills they need for success in school and beyond.

Photo by Alexander Grey on Pexels.com



Published by Marina Scott MS, OTR/L

I’m a pediatric consultant who is an occupational therapist passionate about helping children thrive at home, in school, and in the community. I specialize in sensory processing, emotional regulation, and practical strategies that support families and educators. Through my writing and resources, I aim to make child development approachable and empowering for parents, teachers, and caregivers.

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