Fine Motor Activities With Apples

You can’t escape the apple theme this time of year, and for good reason! Apples are a wonderful way to explore the science behind plant life and nutrition, but they can also be a great way to exercise some fine motor skills. Here are some of my favorite ways to use apples:

Use a rotating apple peeler (like this one – affiliate link) to encourage wrist movement. It’ll fascinate the children and make quick work of slicing all of those apples so that you can taste them or bake with them. Of course, it does have a sharp blade, so this is a one-on-one activity that should only be done with very close supervision.

Once you’ve sliced the apples they are actually pretty soft, so children can cut them into smaller chunks with plastic knives. This is a super safe way for little ones to practice with silverware and use a knife for the first time.

Baking with apples is a no-brainer. It gives children the opportunity to use measuring utensils, explore new ingredients, and experience scientific changes. I love a simple crockpot applesauce because most children are already familiar with commercial applesauce. Mini pies, apple dumplings, and even crescent rolls wrapped around apple slices are also very easy to manage in the classroom.

Another wonderful way to use apples while encouraging fine motor skills is through art projects. Cutting an apple in half and using it for printing is a classic preschool art project for a reason. It’s a completely different way to experience what apples look like. When the apple is cut in half horizontally the print is nothing like the print that is left when it is cut vertically.

Apples can be a great introduction into technical drawings. Most children are familiar with the shapes that make up an apple, and while each apple is different they all have very similar qualities. Children can easily and effectively reproduce an apple-like image from a very young age.

These are just a few ways to use apples to support fine motor skills, but don’t worry, I have more ideas! On Friday I’ll share creative ways to use apples for gross motor practice, so check back in two days for more inspiration.