Nursery World - Take control

Valuable as an end in themselves, activities that encourage the development of fine motor skills are also a prerequisite for writing, says Judith Stevens

Construction area

Construction is an obvious activity in which children can develop their fine motor control. As with other areas of the setting, practitioners need to monitor the range of equipment available. For example, are there kits that stack, screw together and interlock in different ways? Practitioners should also plan to spend time with construction activities, helping children to develop their capacity to build models.

Creative workshop

Children also need opportunities to construct using an assortment of reclaimed items, and to use a wide range of collage materials, either in the creative workshop or, if on a very large scale, outdoors. Additionally, there should be adult-initiated activities involving woodworking tools, such as pliers, saws, screwdrivers and hammers.

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