Provide preschoolers with writing materials and they will automatically start to experiment with drawing and writing letters. Give them pencils, crayons, markers, chalk and plenty of paper and children will start to copy letters they see and draw objects, such as flowers, people or animals. According to Kids Health in "Your Child's Handwriting," most writing at this age will be large and sloppy, but will improve as a child learns to control the fine muscle groups in the hands.
The Mayo Clinic states that a 4-year-old is developmentally ready to start using scissors. After a safety lesson, supply a preschooler with plenty of paper and scissors. Children can cut construction paper or pictures from a magazine to practice these important skills. To help develop control, draw straight lines and have children try to cut on the line. As their skills develop, make the lines progressively more difficult, such as lines with curves and sharp angles.
Modeling dough is an inexpensive staple that should be in the home and classroom of every preschooler. Not only does it provide an outlet for imagination, but it is an excellent way to develop small motor skills by building strength in a child's hands. According to Education in "Fine Motor Skills Developmental Milestones," instruct children to use the dough in different ways, such as rolling large balls, creating pea-sized balls with just the fingertips, and using a plastic knife to cut the dough. Drawing in the dough with a toothpick will also build small motor skills.
According to Healthy Children in "Developmental Milestones: 4- to 5-Year-Olds," children should be able to dress and undress themselves. For many preschoolers, getting dressed can be difficult because of buttons, snaps, zippers and ties. Parents and teachers can purchase special books or activity centers with these activities on them, or simply let the child practice these skills when he is getting dressed, or putting a coat or shoes on. Fastening buttons, zipping a zipper and tying shoelaces can be frustrating at first, but these skills can be developed with practice.
To combine a fine motor activity with a creative one, provide children with a string and any object with a hole in the middle, such as different types of cereal or pasta. Preschoolers will enjoy making a fun necklace or bracelet by stringing these items on. In addition, lacing cards that have holes punched around the outer edge of a picture will help children with small motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they weave a string in and out of the holes.