Looking for an easy, engaging preschool fine motor activity? You need to try Match & Glue! It’s simple to set up, fun for kids, and full of skill-building opportunities.
Why Practice Gluing?
If you give a preschooler a glue bottle, they’ll likely do one of two things: squeeze out every last drop just to see what happens or hesitate because they’re not sure how to use it.
Gluing isn’t an instinctive skill – it’s one that needs practice.
That’s why this Match & Glue activity is perfect. It not only teaches kids how to use glue with precision but also helps develop important life skills. Learning to cut, pour, measure, and glue are foundational abilities that children need guidance and practice to master.
A Win-Win Activity
Some activities come out just right. I was stoked with how this one ended up and basically did a happy dance as I finished prepping it. It hit the sweet spot: easy to prepare, engaging for kids, and beneficial for their development.
But, seriously, don’t worry: it only took a few minutes to set up.
In total, it took about 4 minutes to this set up and kept my 4-year-old busy for more than 20 minutes. That’s a parenting win right there and math I can get behind, and exactly why I love pom pom balls so much.
RELATED: Looking for more fine motor activities for kids? Check out my full list of ideas!
Materials
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- Butcher paper
- Pom pom balls
- “Wet” glue
- Do-a-Dot Markers (or regular markers work just fine too)
These supplies are part of my “most used” activity supplies – and you can see that very basic list on my website (along with additional activity ideas) or in my Amazon shop.
The Set-up
Here’s the step-by-step:
- Roll out a sheet of butcher paper and tape it to the floor or table.
- Use dot markers to make colorful dots across the paper.
- Sort pom pom balls to match the colors of your dots, placing the matching colors in a bowl.
- Hand over a glue bottle and let your preschooler get to work!
Looking for more structure each day?
Check out Playing Preschool: Busy Toddler’s 190-day at-home activities program
How this Fine Motor Activity Works
Your child’s task is to match each pom pom ball to a corresponding dot marker circle and glue it in place. With around 40 dots on the paper, this activity requires concentration, focus, and determination.
Pro Tip: If your child is new to using wet glue, model how to use it first. Show them how to squeeze the bottle gently and how to apply the glue in just the right amount.
Why Match & Glue is Great for Kids
This activity is packed with developmental benefits, including:
- Sorting Skills: Analyzing and categorizing colors.
- Life Skills: Learning to use a glue bottle.
- Grip Strength: Squeezing the glue builds hand muscles.
- Hand-Eye Coordination: Matching and gluing requires precision.
A Fun Morning for Everyone
This little preschool fine motor activity packs a whole lot of learning:
- Life skill: gluing using wet glue
- Grip strength to squeeze the glue
- Hand eye coordination
- Sorting skills (analyzing a group of objects)
A Fun Morning for Everyone
While my son worked on Match & Glue, I enjoyed a peaceful moment with a hot cup of coffee. It’s activities like this that bring a little balance to busy days. Plus, I loved knowing he was practicing essential skills in such a fun way.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie has written two home learning curricula, Playing Preschool and Branches. Her parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
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