Written by Samaria Lawson, COTA/L
Does your child struggle to use an age-appropriate pencil grasp when writing, coloring, or completing school tasks? Maybe they hold their pencil in a fist, wrap extra fingers around it, switch hands frequently, or get frustrated and avoid writing altogether.
You’re not alone — and you don’t have to spend the holidays correcting pencil grip, repeating handwriting drills, or battling frustration.
Instead, occupational therapy research shows that a strong, functional pencil grasp develops through fine motor strengthening, finger isolation, dexterity, grasp development, and bilateral coordination — and the best way to build those skills is through play.
So this season, ditch the writing worksheets and try these 5 fun, low-prep holiday OT activities you can do at home to help improve handwriting skills — without the frustration! Here are your holiday fine motor activities for kids:
1. Tear & Rip Gingerbread Art
A great activity for strengthening the small hand muscles responsible for a mature tripod grasp.
How to Do It:
- Tear thick construction paper into tiny pieces
- Glue onto a gingerbread template to decorate
Skills Worked On:
Intrinsic hand strength • graded pressure • visual-motor integration • pre-writing foundation
Supplies:
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Gingerbread template (you can find this online, or just draw one yourself!)
2. Snowball Rescue
This is a fan-favorite OT task for improving grasp strength and precision!
How to Do It:
- Spread cotton balls or pom poms on a table
- Use tongs or clothespins to sort by color, size, or number
Skills Worked On:
Pincer grasp • bilateral coordination • hand strength • counting & classification
Supplies:
- Cotton balls or pom poms
- Tongs or clothespins
3. Candy Cane Bead Ornament
Threading beads builds dexterity, handwriting endurance, and refined grasp patterns.
How to Do It:
- Alternate white and red beads on a pipe cleaner
- Bend like a candy cane and hang it as a keepsake
Skills Worked On:
Finger isolation • tripod grasp strengthening • sequencing • bilateral coordination
Supplies:
- Pipe cleaner
- Red and white beads
4. Holiday Sticker Collage
Peeling stickers strengthens the same muscles used to manipulate a pencil with control.
How to Do It:
- Peel stickers
- Place onto paper to create a festive collage
Skills Worked On:
Fine motor precision • visual scanning • creativity
Supplies:
- Holiday-themed stickers
- Blank paper
5. Q-Tip Painting: Dot Art
Similar to writing, Q-tip art builds strength and motor control — but in a much more engaging way!
How to Do It:
- Print or draw a simple holiday picture
- Dip Q-tips in paint and stamp along the lines
Skills Worked On:
Finger control • attention to boundaries • visual-motor accuracy
Supplies:
- Q-tips
- Paper
- Washable paint
Why These Holiday Activities Help With Pencil Grip
These simple OT-inspired activities support the building blocks of handwriting, including:
✨ Hand strength
✨ Bilateral coordination
✨ Finger dexterity
✨ Wrist stability
✨ Fine motor control
When these skills improve, children naturally shift toward a functional pencil grasp — without pressure, arguments, or discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does my child struggle with pencil grasp?
Children may struggle due to weak fine motor muscles, delayed motor development, sensory challenges, low hand endurance, or skipped developmental milestones such as crawling or play-based strengthening.
2. What type of pencil grasp is considered age-appropriate?
A mature tripod grasp typically develops between ages 5–7, but progress varies. Before this stage, transitional grasps (like a modified tripod) are developmentally normal.
3. How can I help my child without constant reminders?
Use activities like the ones above to build strength and coordination before writing. Corrective reminders work better when the hand is strong and ready.
4. When should I seek occupational therapy?
If your child avoids writing, tires quickly, becomes frustrated, or has ongoing difficulty with grasp or handwriting, OT can help support development and confidence.
We’re Here to Help!
If handwriting, fine motor skills, or pencil grasp are challenging for your child, our licensed occupational therapists would love to support you.
Serving families in:
Greenville • New Bern • Goldsboro • Morehead City