A Simple, Adaptable Fine Motor Activity for Every Child
As early intervention providers, we’re always searching for activities that are both engaging and beneficial. One of my go-to solutions, a simple yet versatile fine motor activity, involves tearing paper and gluing it onto a shape. It’s a fantastic way to incorporate any book or theme, and it’s proven to be a hit with the children I work with.
Tearing Paper: The Power of Simple
I have tailored this activity to fit any occasion. For instance, when we were reading “Pete the Cat,” the children eagerly tore red paper and carefully glued the pieces onto a white shoe cutout.
During Valentine’s Day, we used assorted colored paper to fill heart shapes…
and for Game Day… (Southern Miss To The Top!) black and gold paper transformed into footballs.
Each time, the activity felt fresh and exciting, proving its adaptability and engaging nature.
This activity is more than just fun; it’s a powerful tool for promoting joint attention, fostering creativity, and building fine motor strength. It’s a simple concept that can be modified to meet the unique needs of each child. You can do it on home visits or in the classroom.
Backed by the Experts
The benefits of tearing paper for fine motor development are well-documented. As The OT Toolbox states, torn paper art offers “awesome fine motor” practice, and there are many ways to vary the paper and the activity itself. You can find more information here:
The intrinsic muscles are used to tear up paper and these set of muscles located within the hand are important in so many fine motor skills, including those important to handwriting and coloring, managing buttons and zippers, manipulating pegs, and more.
When paper is torn, the hands assume a great tripod grasp which is effective and a mature grasp for writing and coloring.
OT Tool Box
Furthermore, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) emphasizes the importance of fine motor skills to parents.
“Many of your child’s daily activities—like getting dressed, eating, and writing—require control of small muscles in the hands. We call these skills fine motor skills. Your child can do more things for himself when he has opportunities to practice these skills.”
“Help Your Child Build Fine Motor Skills,” NAEYC
Real-World Classroom and Home Experience
In my classroom experience working with two-year-olds, this activity was a consistent favorite. We incorporated it into our weekly rotation, and it never failed to capture their attention. The variations—different colors, shapes, and themes—kept the activity engaging and new. It’s also simple enough to plan to do on a home visit with parents.
Practical Tips and Adaptations for Tearing Paper with Littles
Here are some practical tips to make this activity successful:
- Fine Motor Strengthening: Tearing paper is an excellent way to strengthen fine motor skills. If a child struggles with tearing, consider using softer materials like tissue paper or pre-cutting the paper and having them scrunch it into balls.
- Sensory Exploration: Gluing provides a rich sensory experience. Glue sticks are generally easiest for toddlers, but squeezing a bottle of glue can also build hand strength. Don’t shy away from the stickiness; it can help children improve their tactile sensory tolerance. Read more about my opinion about glue sticks here
- Themed and Functional Activities: Tailor the activity to specific themes or functional goals by choosing particular colors or shapes. For example, using specific colors for a holiday or creating shapes related to a current lesson.
Conclusion: Tearing Paper is Simple, Effective, and Adaptable
In essence, tearing and gluing paper is a simple, effective, and highly adaptable fine motor activity. It’s a valuable tool for early intervention providers, offering opportunities for creativity, sensory exploration, and skill development. By adapting the materials and themes, we can keep this activity fresh and engaging for all children.
Some Related Products on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases.
Construction paper is softer to tear than regular paper.
Glue sticks go on blue so children can see the glue.
Paper Cut Outs in Hand Shape–would be fun to glue textured items onto.
All Things Early Intervention 