Runningbrook International Preschool
San Carlos Center: Carlos Peña Otaegui 11206 (intersection La Fuente) San Carlos de Apoquindo, Las Condes
Runningbrook International Preschool
San Carlos Center: Carlos Peña Otaegui 11206 (intersection La Fuente) San Carlos de Apoquindo, Las Condes
November 12, 2026
Have you ever watched your child try to pick up a single grain of rice, peel a sticker off a page, or squeeze a tiny button through its hole? Their face scrunches up with concentration, the tongue peeks out, and then comes the proud grin when they finally do it. Those moments are more important than they look. Each one helps build fine motor skills, the small, precise movements of the hands and fingers that children will later use to hold a pencil, zip a jacket, use a fork and open their lunchbox on their own.
The good news is that you don't need expensive toys or special equipment to support this kind of early childhood development. In this article we share three simple, low-cost activities you can set up at home with things you probably already have: tape rescue, beads and scissors. We'll look at what you might see at different ages, offer practical ideas you can try this week, and explain how these activities connect to the play-based learning we practice every day at Runningbrook.
Fine motor skills are about much more than neat handwriting. They support independence (dressing, eating, washing hands), creativity (drawing, building, crafting) and confidence (the feeling of 'I can do it myself!').
Research supports what educators see in the classroom every day. A widely cited study by David Grissmer and colleagues (2010, Developmental Psychology) found that fine motor skills at kindergarten entry were a strong predictor of later achievement in reading and math, alongside attention and early academic knowledge. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through their developmental milestone guidelines, also highlight hand skills like stacking blocks, turning pages and drawing simple shapes as important markers of healthy growth in the early years.
The key takeaway is not that children need drills or worksheets. It's that hands learn best through meaningful, playful practice, which is exactly what tape, beads and scissors offer.
Every child develops at their own pace. Some children are drawn to tiny details early on, while others prefer running, climbing and jumping before settling into quieter hand work. Both paths are completely normal. The descriptions below are general patterns, not checklists.
In this stage, which matches our Growing Steps program, you might see your little one moving from grabbing with the whole hand to using a 'pincer grasp' (thumb and index finger) to pick up small things. They love to pull, poke, drop and put things into containers. You may notice them tugging at a loose piece of tape on a box, or patiently trying to pull a sock off their foot.
Children in our Playgroup age range are often fascinated by threading, pulling and peeling. They may thread large beads or pasta tubes onto a pipe cleaner, peel stickers, and begin to show interest in scissors, often holding them with two hands or opening and closing them without cutting yet.
At Kid's Club age, many children can lace beads onto a thick string, make short snips in paper, and peel tape with growing precision. You might see them making 'necklaces' for family members or snipping paper into confetti with great enthusiasm.
In Pre-Kinder, children often begin cutting along straight and then curved lines, creating bead patterns (red, blue, red, blue), and combining skills, for example, cutting out shapes and taping them together to build a project. Their grasp on tools becomes more stable, which supports early writing.
Remember: if your child seems more or less advanced than these descriptions, that is perfectly fine. Children often take leaps in one area while taking their time in another. If you ever have concerns, your child's educators and pediatrician are wonderful partners to talk with.
This is a favorite among children and educators alike. Take some painter's tape or masking tape (it peels off easily and doesn't damage surfaces) and stick small toys to a tray, a table, a baking sheet or the floor. Then invite your child to 'rescue' the animals, cars or figures.
Picture a rainy afternoon when everyone is a bit restless. A tray of taped-down dinosaurs can turn into twenty minutes of deep concentration, with the added bonus of a story about who is rescuing whom.
Threading strengthens the pincer grasp and builds hand-eye coordination. It also offers wonderful opportunities to talk about colors, counting and patterns, in one language or several.
Many families find that bead time becomes a calm, connected moment, perhaps sitting together at the kitchen table after dinner, chatting while small hands work.
Scissors can feel intimidating for parents, but with child-safe, rounded-tip scissors and supervision, they are a fantastic tool for building hand strength and coordination.
Expect lots of paper scraps! Turning cleanup into part of the game (who can pick up the most pieces?) adds even more fine motor practice.
Fine motor practice doesn't have to be a separate 'activity.' Peeling a mandarin, shelling peas, pouring water, buttoning a cardigan, hanging clothes with clothespins or tearing lettuce for a salad are all wonderful, real-life opportunities. Children love feeling that they are contributing to family life.
If your child loses interest after three minutes, that's okay. If they want to rescue the same toy fifteen times, that's okay too. Repetition is how children master skills. Offer, observe and adapt: you'll quickly discover what captures their attention.
Families around the world support fine motor development in many different ways. In some cultures, children are encouraged from a young age to use chopsticks, help with cooking or take part in traditional crafts such as weaving or embroidery. In others, adults may do more for young children, valuing closeness and care. In Chile, for example, many children learn alongside grandparents, shelling beans, kneading dough for sopaipillas or helping to set the table for once (afternoon tea).
None of these approaches is better or worse. Each offers its own rich opportunities. At Runningbrook, where we have welcomed families from more than 35 countries, our multicultural environment constantly reminds us that there are many ways to raise capable, confident children. We love when families share their traditions, songs and hands-on activities with us, as they enrich the experience of every child in the classroom. And for bilingual families, these activities are a natural moment to practice vocabulary in both languages: 'tape' and 'cinta,' 'beads' and 'cuentas,' 'cut' and 'cortar.'
Since 1993, Runningbrook has followed a child-centered approach grounded in the belief that children learn best through play, exploration and genuine interest. In our classrooms, you'll often find trays with tape and toys, baskets of beads, playdough with tools and cutting stations, offered as invitations rather than assignments.
Our small group sizes allow educators to observe each child closely and offer the right level of challenge at the right moment. Within our bilingual education program, these activities also become chances to build language, describe actions and solve problems together. When you try tape rescue, beads or scissors at home, you're extending the same play-based learning your child experiences with us, and building a beautiful bridge between home and preschool.
Fine motor development doesn't happen in a single day or through a single activity. It grows little by little, through countless moments of peeling, threading, snipping and trying again. You don't need to plan perfect activities or follow a strict schedule. A roll of tape, a handful of pasta and a pair of child-safe scissors, offered with patience and curiosity, are more than enough.
Most importantly, remember that you are the expert on your own child. You know what makes them laugh, what frustrates them and what lights up their curiosity. Trust that knowledge, adapt these ideas to your family and celebrate every small victory, whether it's the first successful snip or a toy dinosaur rescued from a tangle of tape.
At Runningbrook, we're honored to walk alongside you on this journey. If you'd like more ideas or want to know how fine motor skills are supported in your child's classroom, our educators are always happy to chat. Happy rescuing, threading and snipping!