Denise, You Don’t Need a Fine Motor Table!

Let’s talk about fine motor skills.

I see so many posts in EYFS groups asking, “What should I put on my fine motor table?” or “How do I set up a fine motor station?” And while it’s great that we’re thinking about ways to develop children’s hand strength and dexterity, let me tell you something...

Denise, you don’t need a fine motor table.

Fine motor development is happening everywhere in your classroom, all the time. You don’t need a dedicated table with tweezers, pom-poms, and nuts and bolts (unless you want one). Instead, take a look around your provision—it’s already full of opportunities for children to strengthen their little hands

Fine Motor Skills Are Built Through Play

Think about what children are naturally doing throughout the day:

Building with small blocks – Pinching, gripping, and pushing pieces together helps develop finger strength.
Threading and lacing – A great way to refine coordination and concentration.
Holding mark-making tools – Whether it’s chalk, pencils, or paintbrushes, all of it contributes to writing readiness.
Using construction toys – Connecting and pulling apart pieces builds hand strength and precision.
Manipulating small world figures – Picking up and positioning tiny people, animals, and furniture in a dollhouse works wonders for hand-eye coordination.
Dressing up and fastening clothes – Buttons, zips, and Velcro? That’s a whole hand workout right there.
Rolling, squishing, and moulding playdough – The ultimate resistance training for little fingers.
Using pegs and clips – Pegging up pictures, hanging washing in the role-play area, or attaching signs to fences builds pincer grip and control.

It’s Already Embedded in Your Classroom

You don’t need a special table for fine motor skills because it’s happening naturally in every area of your provision:

📍 The Maths Area – Picking up counters, turning number dials, stacking cubes, and using tweezers to move objects.

📍 The Writing Area – Handling clipboards, using paper clips, sharpening pencils, tearing paper, or flipping through word cards.

📍 The Role Play Corner – Pouring from jugs, holding cutlery, using tongs, buttoning up costumes.

📍 The Construction Area – Connecting, twisting, stacking, and slotting pieces into place.

📍 The Outdoor Area – Digging in the mud kitchen, fastening bike helmets, using spray bottles, collecting natural treasures like conkers and acorns.