12 December 2024
Funky Fingers activities are all about strengthening fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and finger dexterity in fun and engaging ways. These activities are perfect for EYFS children, encouraging creativity and problem-solving while helping them meet key Early Learning Goals.
Let’s dive into some exciting Funky Fingers activities for EYFS that are sure to keep little hands busy!
Blossom’s Recommended Funky Fingers Activities for Early Years:
Activity 1: Pom-Poms and Tweezers
Provide children with tweezers, pom-poms, and small bowls. Challenge them to pick up the pom-poms using the tweezers and transfer them to a bowl. Add an extra layer of fun by sorting them by colours and counting as they transfer.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Using tweezers strengthens hand muscles and finger coordination.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Mathematics
- Number:
- Counting the pom-poms as they transfer them introduces number recognition.
- Numerical Patterns:
- Sorting pom-poms by colour or size supports pattern recognition.
- Number:
- Communication and Language
- Speaking:
- Describing the pom-poms encourages vocabulary development.
- Speaking:
Activity 2: Threading Beads on String
Give children colourful beads and shoelaces or strings to practise threading. Encourage them to create patterns, such as alternating colours or shapes.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Threading beads enhances precision and finger control.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Mathematics
- Numerical Patterns:
- Creating bead patterns introduces sequencing and early maths concepts.
- Numerical Patterns:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials:
- Children use their creativity to design their bead patterns.
- Creating with Materials:
Activity 3: Peg Boards and Pegs
Provide pegboards and colourful pegs for children to create pictures, patterns, or designs. You can also set challenges, like copying a specific pattern or creating a shape.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Placing pegs into the board strengthens hand and finger muscles.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Mathematics
- Numerical Patterns:
- Creating patterns with pegs develops early maths skills.
- Numerical Patterns:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials:
- Designing with pegs encourages creative thinking.
- Creating with Materials:
Activity 4: Elastic Band Boards
Provide wooden boards with nails or pins, and let children stretch elastic bands around them to create shapes, letters, or patterns.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Stretching elastic bands improves hand strength and dexterity.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Mathematics
- Numerical Patterns:
- Arranging bands in specific patterns encourages sequencing.
- Numerical Patterns:
Activity 5: Playdough Manipulation
Set up a playdough station with tools like rolling pins, shape cutters, and plastic knives. Encourage children to roll, press, and mould the playdough into various shapes or objects.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Manipulating playdough strengthens finger and hand muscles.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials:
- Children use playdough to express their creativity.
- Creating with Materials:
- Communication and Language
- Speaking:
- Talking about their creations builds descriptive vocabulary.
- Speaking:
Activity 6: Button Sorting
Provide a collection of buttons of different colours, sizes, and shapes. Ask children to sort them into trays or containers by specific attributes, like colour or size.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Picking up and sorting buttons helps refine hand control.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Mathematics
- Number:
- Counting buttons introduces number recognition.
- Numerical Patterns:
- Sorting by size or colour develops pattern recognition.
- Number:
- Communication and Language
- Speaking:
- Describing the buttons promotes vocabulary development.
- Speaking:
Activity 7: Pipe Cleaner and Colander Fun
Provide a colander and colourful pipe cleaners. Encourage children to thread the pipe cleaners through the holes, creating patterns or “spiky” designs.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Threading pipe cleaners strengthens finger muscles and coordination.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials:
- Children explore patterns and shapes using the pipe cleaners.
- Creating with Materials:
Activity 8: Clothes Peg Challenge
Give children a basket of clothes pegs and a line or edge to clip them onto. You can make it more engaging by asking them to match coloured pegs to specific sections or patterns.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Pinching pegs strengthens hand muscles and coordination.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Mathematics
- Numerical Patterns:
- Matching pegs by colour or creating patterns introduces maths concepts.
- Numerical Patterns:
- Communication and Language
- Speaking:
- Explaining their patterns develops vocabulary and communication skills.
- Speaking:
Activity 9: Finger Painting Patterns
Provide paper and paint for children to create patterns or pictures using only their fingers. They can make dots, swirls, or even animals using their fingerprints.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials:
- Finger painting allows for creative exploration and self-expression.
- Being Imaginative and Expressive:
- Children can create unique designs using their fingertips.
- Creating with Materials:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Using fingers to paint helps refine control and precision.
- Fine Motor Skills:
These Funky Fingers activities for EYFS are perfect for developing essential fine motor skills while keeping children engaged and entertained. From threading and sorting to creative crafts and tactile play, these activities support all EYFS Areas of Learning in fun and meaningful ways.
For UK nurseries and early years providers, these activities are a fantastic way to encourage hands-on learning, creativity, and confidence in young learners.
Let the Funky Fingers fun begin!
