Sand Box Tools for Fine Motor Skill Development

by Kelly Pfeiffer

Stock the sand box with items that invite preschoolers to practice fine motor skills. Sand box fun is full of fine motor development opportunities when you provide certain tools for preschoolers to scoop, pour and rake.

When preschoolers dig in, scoop up and move sand, they build  strength in the small muscles in their hands and wrists. Holding small cookie cutters and sand molds helps develop the muscles in the fingers and palm of the hand.

Fine Motor Items from Around the House

Plastic Laundry Scoops – Laundry scoops serve as great scoops for preschoolers to transport sand.

Measuring Cups – Measuring cups are another great tool to scoop and dump sand and to use as sand molds.

Measuring Spoons – Preschoolers can move small amounts of sand with measuring spoons.

Large Tooth Comb – Preschoolers can make patterns in the sand as they drag the comb across the sand’s surface.

Cookie Cutters – Use cookie cutters as sand molds or sand print tools.

Funnels – Kitchen funnels with large holes work great in the sandbox for preschoolers to pour sand through.

Kitchen Strainers – Show preschoolers how to bury a small item in the sandbox, then scoop a big lop of sand into the strainer and shake it to reveal the buried item.

Kitchen Salad Tongs – Preschoolers can use kitchen tongs to pick up small bits of sand or sand box toys.

Fine Motor Sandbox Toys to Purchase

A Sand Wheel with a Crank – Crank toys provide a handle for small hands to turn and develop fine motor skills.

Sand Rakes

Sand Molds

Sand Bucket

Plastic Sieves/Strainers

Magnets – Add a horseshoe magnet or magnet wand and metal items from your kitchen. Preschoolers can bury items in the sand and “search” for them with the horseshoe magnet or magnet wand.

Tips for Promoting Fine Motor Development in the Sandbox

Rotate Toys – When you add new fine motor toys to the sandbox, put other sand box toys away and bring them out in a few weeks or months.

Less is More - Instead of overwhelming preschoolers with lots of toys at once, add toys in small groups and put away other toys.