Fine Motor Toothpick Activity

This toothpick activity requires only one item: a toothpick container found at the local dollar store. Typically a toothpick container is filled with toothpicks and has a few holes in the removable lid, making it a great fine motor tool for children. This occupational therapy activity is used because you can target many precision skills and dexterity in kids. Let’s check it out…

Toothpick Container Activity

I’ve had a toothpick container in my therapy bag for many, many years. While we don’t actually use the toothpicks in their traditional use, we do, use the toothpicks in a fine motor activity that kids seem to love!

First, look for a holder that has small holes in a removeable lid. Amazon (affiliate link) has a three pack with color coded lids which would be great for sorting colored toothpicks.

Next, place toothpicks on the table and show the child how to pick up one at a time and drop them into the holes of the lid.

Use this basic activity in many ways:

• Play pick up sticks
• Roll a dice and pick up that many toothpicks. Drop them in the holes of the container.
• Set a timer and place as many toothpicks in the holes as possible
• Hide toothpicks in a sensory bin. Pull out a toothpick and drop them into the holes as they are found.

What other ways to use this toothpick container activity can you think of?

Fine Motor Toothpick activity

What skills are we working on here?

• Neat pincer grasp
• Finger isolation
• Hand-eye coordination
• Graded grasp
• Bilateral coordination

More Toothpick Activities

1. STEM Towers: Challenge your child to build towers using toothpicks and marshmallows. There is power in fine motor STEM! This activity promotes precision and hand-eye coordination.
2. Pincer Grasp Practice: Encourage your child to pick up toothpicks using only the tips of their thumb and index finger in a neat pincer grasp. They can transfer toothpicks from one container to another, enhancing their fine motor control.
3. Build letters: Use toothpicks to shape letters of the alphabet. Your child can place the toothpicks on a flat surface to form letters, improving their finger dexterity and control.
4. Counting and Sorting: Have your child count and sort toothpicks into different groups based on length, color, or other criteria. This activity develops counting skills and promotes attention to detail. One way to expand this activity is to use a marker or paint to color the toothpicks or use (Amazon affiliate link) colored craft matchsticks.
5. Geometric Shapes: Challenge your child to create geometric shapes, such as squares, triangles, or hexagons, by connecting toothpicks. This activity sharpens spatial awareness and fosters creativity.
6. Playdough Poke: Make a playdough snake and then use the toothpicks to poke along the play dough. This threading exercise improves hand strength, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor control.
7. Toothpick Art: Encourage your child to create miniature sculptures or artwork using toothpicks. They can connect toothpicks with glue or build structures, allowing their creativity to flourish while refining their fine motor skills.
8. Sensory Play: Combine toothpicks with sensory materials like kinetic sand or rice. Your child can bury toothpicks in the material, dig them out, or create patterns and designs. This activity provides tactile stimulation and enhances finger strength.
9. Fine Motor Mazes: Draw or print mazes on paper and use toothpicks as a stylus to navigate through the maze. This activity strengthens hand control and precision movements.

Plus, you can use the toothpicks in the toothpick art found in our seasonal Fine Motor Kits:

Use these Fine Motor Kits for hands-on activity kits to develop fine motor skills, strength, dexterity, and manipulation. Kids LOVE these fine motor kits for the motivating activities. Therapists love them because it’s fresh, fun ways to work on pinch, grip, manipulation skills, and much more. Try some of these themed therapy kits:

• Fall Fine Motor Kit
• Winter Fine Motor Kit
• Spring Fine Motor Kit
• Summer Fine Motor Kit
• Frogs and Toads Themed Fine Motor Kit
• Letters! Fine Motor Kit
• Outer Space Themed Fine Motor Kit
• Valentine’s Day Fine Motor Kit
• Penguin Themed Fine Motor Kit
• Snowman Themed Fine Motor Kit