5 Therapist-Favorite Easter Fine Motor Crafts

As an occupational therapist and a mom, I utilize crafts to target fine motor (hand) skills. It’s a fun way to incorporate cutting, coloring, writing and other skills into one project.  I love using kids’ interests to determine the art project and then letting them get creative. It’s fun to see what kids create on their own with a bit of inspiration. 

These Easter fine motor craft ideas utilize supplies that many people already have at home.

After each craft idea, learn how to adapt it for younger children and those who have difficulty with fine motor skills.

This leads us to my first idea:

1. Decorate Themed Easter Eggs:

Supplies:

  • Construction paper
  • Plastic eggs
  • Paint
  • Scissors
  • Markers

Pick a theme your kids love. My boys and their friends are really into Pokémon, so we decided to make Pokémon eggs. I got paint, colored paper, tape, and markers, and I showed the kids pictures of their favorite Pokémon for inspiration. 

We realized we needed a stand to hold the eggs after painting them, so we used paper loops, but cardstock loops would work better. We then used an empty egg carton to let them dry. Afterward, cut out Pokémon tails, ears and other features from construction paper and glue them onto the eggs. Then, draw the face. 

You could also use hard-boiled eggs and paint the entire egg, but we opted for the plastic eggs so they would last longer. I found this tutorial here from Ruffles & Rain Boots.

However, you can use this same idea for any other characters or themes your child loves.

Adapt the craft for younger kids or those with difficulty with fine motor skills by letting them paint the whole egg rather than attempting to use construction paper. Use a paintbrush with a built-up handle. Cut out tails and ears for your child and have them glue them on. For kids just learning how to cut, use self-opening scissors.

2. Easter Egg Hunt Bags

Supplies:

  • Plain paper bags
  • Stickers
  • Markers or foam shapes
  • Ribbon

Prepare for your Easter Egg Hunt by decorating small paper bags. Younger kids may have fun scribbling pictures, using stamps or peeling stickers. Kids just learning how to cut will be able to snip and glue on ribbon. Older kids can use stencils and draw pictures.

Adapt the hunt for children who use wheelchairs or have difficulty with coordination by tying a string with a balloon attached to each egg so they can reach it, or place them in more accessible spots, such as attaching them to the wall with sticky tack. Use larger eggs for those that have difficulty grasping objects. Try adding beeping eggs that emit sounds or flashing eggs (can also try putting a LED tealight inside) for those with visual impairments.

3. Sponge Paint Animals

Supplies:

  • Cut up kitchen sponge
  • Washable paint
  • Construction paper

Create Easter themed animals using a sponge and paint. Your child can cut a piece of the sponge to create a mini sponge. We used black paper for the sheep and white paper for the chick. Dip the sponge into the paint and then push it down in a circle on the paper and fill it in.

Once it’s dry, you can draw the face, use construction paper to glue the face (we did this for the sheep and chick beak) and use googly eyes. Cut out construction paper legs for the chick or draw them. My four-year-old completed both pictures and drew the legs with paint markers. 

After making the animals, he decided to decorate the paper. Practice making circles and ovals around the animal, decorating them as Easter eggs. You could also glue green crinkle paper around the chick’s feet for grass.

Adapt the craft by using large, built-up paintbrushes for children who are unable to pinch a small sponge. Pre-cut animal parts for them to glue. If they are learning to cut, practice opening and closing the scissors by having them snip around the edges of the paper to resemble grass.

4. Clothespin Animals

Supplies:

  • Regular or mini clothespins
  • Construction paper or cardstock
  • Markers
  • Scissors

Use construction paper or cardstock to draw animals associated with Easter like a sheep, chick or bunny. My 4-year-old chose to draw a monkey. Older kids can cut them out and assist younger kids. Then, use markers or paint markers to color the front of two clothespins. Strengthen little hands by having your child squeeze the clothespin and add them to their animal for legs. Have fun by changing up the clothespin legs on different animals. My boys made a bunny, an Easter egg, and a monkey, and my 4-year-old made an interesting “mustache man,” which is not pictured.

Adapt the task for kids that are unable to draw by making the animal and then they can color it with markers/crayons or use dot markers if they have difficulty coloring. Children who have difficulty cutting can use self-opening scissors. If they have trouble adding the clothespin legs, have them try to open the clothespin to work on hand strength while you slide in the paper.

5. Sheep Popcorn Balls

Supplies:

  • Popcorn
  • Butter
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Plastic wrap or sandwich bags
  • Construction paper
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Markers
  • Paint
  • Googly eyes

My boys enjoy cooking and especially making treats. Use your favorite popcorn ball recipe to create the body of the sheep first. We used this recipe from Divas Can Cook. If your kids love getting their hands messy and sticky, they can help roll the popcorn balls. If they don’t like to get messy, you can complete this step for them, which I did for one of my kids who kept shouting, “Ahhhh,” as he saw my marshmallow-covered hands. Let the popcorn balls cool. 

Then wrap them individually in plastic wrap (as we did) or place them in separate Ziplock bags. Next, cut out a circle and two ovals on black paper and glue the ears onto the head. We used googly eyes, but you could also draw them and then draw a smile. Tape the head onto the plastic wrap, along with two black ovals for the legs.

Adapt the task by making popcorn balls if your child doesn’t like to get messy or they can wear oiled/buttered gloves. If they have difficulty cutting, pre-cut the shapes for them to glue. You can also try a wider glue stick if they have trouble grasping a smaller one. To build hand strength, have them squeeze liquid glue.