Building fine motor skills with children with autism

Building fine motor skills with children with autism skills can be a big challenge. I’ve seen children cry over not being able to hold a pencil correctly, throw activities across the room because they did not feel up to the fine motor challenge and have meltdowns as soon as fine motor activities were added to the visual schedule.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Building fine motor skills doesn’t have to be such a drag and cause your child so much frustration.

Building fine motor skills will be easier with these fun and engaging activities!

1. Pail and clothespins activity

2. Fish bowl playdough mat

3. Creative & fun play with straws

4. Use adapted origami!

5. Make thumbprint flower pots

6. Ice Cream Playdough mat

7. Free printable pointing book

8. Fill the fridge – free printable food matching game

9. Fun & educational Montessori trays

10. Cotton balls & clothespins

11. Build fine motor skills with finger puppets

12. My favorite super sorting pie game

13. Colorful socks playdough mat

3 bonus fine motor activities

Create a sensory box and feed the birds from Modern Preschool.

You can use clothespins or jumbo fine motor tweezers for this activity like these.

Feed a big mouth frog from Therapy Fun Zone.

Construct with straws and playdough from Fireflies and Mudpies.

More Autism Resources

• The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
• Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
• Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
• How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
• Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!

Building Fine Motor Skills

How do you work on building fine motor skills with your child or in your classroom? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!

Eager to teach your child even more?

If you are looking to build your child’s communication skills in a fun sensory way, then the printable sensory communication workbook is for you!

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First published January 25, 2018. Last updated March 22, 2021 with more information, additional tips, and better readability.