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You are here: Home / Fall Activities / Fine Motor Pinecone Activity with Paint

Fine Motor Pinecone Activity with Paint

October 6, 2014 by Sheryl Cooper

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This post might contain affiliate links. CLICK HERE for more information. Thanks for visiting!

Inside: This pinecone activity is super simple to set up, and strengthens toddler fine motor skills by squeezing the paint.

Squirting paint using basters and pipettes is always a good way to strengthen fine motor skills. Our preschoolers loved making colorful waterfalls! But how about younger children? This pinecone fine motor activity for toddlers is the answer, especially in the fall.

When someone donated a huge bag of pinecones, I just knew they’d be perfect for this. You know how I love to work those fine motor skills in all areas of the classroom!

There are so many cute fall crafts out there, and I admit I’ve got a few planned for October, but what I feel is most important is open-ended art. The type of art that the children walk right up to the table and do what they want, with no thought on the finished product. The pure joy of just exploring!

That’s exactly what happened with this fall fine motor activity.

This was the first time our 2 year olds used droppers or pipettes. They smiled huge when they realized if they squeezed and released, paint would burst out. The more they performed the motion, the easier it got. Pure fun!

 

Try This Pine Cone Activity to Strengthen Toddler Fine Motor Skills

 

Related: Fun Pinecone Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Fine Motor Pinecone Activity with Paint

 

What you will need:

  • pinecones
  • washable tempera paint
  • droppers or pipettes
  • brushes (if some of the children do not yet feel comfortable with the droppers and pipettes)

 

 

 

preschool fine motor fall

 

 

Setting it up:

Pour the tempera paint into containers and place them on  a table, along with the droppers and/or pipettes and/or brushes and the pinecones. Invite your toddlers to paint the pinecones! It really is as simple as that!

 

preschool fine motor fall

 

 

What I love about these droppers is that the children really have to focus on squeezing the paint from the tray and releasing it onto the pine cone. It is not easy, takes great concentration, but once they master this? All smiles!

 

preschool fine motor fall

 

Oh, and they also giggled when the droppers made bubbles from the air.

 

preschool fine motor fall

 

These are the types of art activities where I can show them and walk away. Child-led, NOT teacher directed.

 

preschool fine motor fall

 

preschool fine motor fall

 

We hung these on our classroom tree along with the owls made by the 3s class. The children love to try to figure out which one is theirs.

 

pinecone art

 

 

preschool fine motor fall

 

Try This Pine Cone Activity to Strengthen Toddler Fine Motor Skills

 


More ideas for fall:

Fall Leaf Action Art

Easy Paper Plate Fall Wreath

15 Fun Playdough Activities for Fall

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Art, Fall Activities, Fine Motor, Toddler Fine Motor, Toddlers Tagged With: fall, fine motor, preschoolers, toddlers

About Sheryl Cooper

Sheryl Cooper is the founder of Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds, a website full of activities for toddlers and preschoolers. She has been teaching this age group for over 20 years and loves to share her passion with teachers, parents, grandparents, and anyone with young children in their lives.

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