Best Toys for Fine Motor Skills: Preschooler Grip Strength Activities

2. Hog Wild Pig Ball Popper Toy

This toy is a great way to trick your preschooler into building hand strength. When the belly is squeezed, the ball pops out of the pig’s nose. It took my preschooler a few tries before he was able to successfully squeeze the belly hard enough, but now he has the strength.

The ball is soft and squishy, but I definitely encourage my son to avoid aiming the pig at anything breakable or faces. There are a variety of animals available.

3. Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Stretch Stuart, Stretchy Minion Hero

This is another favorite hand strength toy for both of my kids. My preschooler and kindergartner both LOVE stretching and squeezing this little guy. It helps improve grip strength because kids can’t help but constantly pull and twist this toy. Ever since he got it, my son has brought this toy everywhere he goes.

4. Sensory Maze Fidget Toy

This toy is easy to toss in a backpack and keeps my son busy in the car or at a restaurant. While the balls inside the maze are pretty easy to move, they require pinching and pushing, which is another great exercise for developing fine motor skills. My son calls the balls inside the “family” and tries to get the family through the maze together. The gel inside makes it a good sensory toy.

5. Sensory Fine Motor Activity Ball Toy

This toy requires my son to push colorful “strings” into grooves surrounding a ball. The strings can be stored inside the toy, making it easy to clean up and take it to restaurants or car rides.

My son willingly spends time focusing on pushing and pinching the strings, creating rainbow designs. It is a great way to build hand strength.

6. Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Marvel Mega Mini 6 Pack

Similar to the stretchy Minion, these superheroes can be stretched and pulled to the extreme. The six-figure pack makes this a toy that not only builds hand strength but also incorporates imagination for preschoolers. My son likes to pretend they are in an action scene, talking to each other and fighting crime. They are much smaller than the Minion, but this makes them another easy-to-bring toy for restaurants or even airplanes.

7. Skillmatics Scissor Skills Activity Book

If you are feeling a little more adventurous and academic, this fine motor skill activity book helps improve cutting skills. My son was a little sloppy with it at first, but once he got the hang of it, he focused on trying to accurately cut. He really loved the activities related to space and just being allowed to use scissors.

8. Klever Kits 4 DIY Wooden Race Cars-Build & Paint

My son loves cars. So, he took to this activity immediately. This toy is for ages eight and up, but we tried it anyway because I was hoping holding the paintbrush would help improve his fine motor skills. He was all over the place with the paint, but he did take his time practicing the right way to hold the paintbrush. He also loved putting the stickers on the cars.

9. Alphabet & Number Playdough Mat for Letter Tracing

If you are looking to simultaneously improve hand strength and literacy skills, this is one of the best toys. Fine motor skills are improved because this activity requires kids to roll and shape the playdough. At the same time, the child learns letters and numbers. My son especially loved the number cards. He enjoys counting and placing the playdough in the correct location.

10. Play-Doh Mini Crazy Cuts Set

Sticking with the topic of Play-Doh, this is definitely a favorite in our house. Multiple aspects of this toy help improve hand strength and fine motor skills. Kids need to shape the Play-Doh to fit into the head and use pinch strength to push the toy down and the hair out. My son is still working on developing the hand strength to accomplish this.

Once the hair has “grown,” kids can practice using scissors to style and trim the hair. This is definitely a toy my preschooler LOVES.