9 Dollar Tree Motor Skill Activities under $20

Dollar Tree has always been one of my favorite places to shop. Whenever I visit the store, I pick up a few odd things that I feel my kids would love. Over the years, I have tried some great dollar store motor skill activities.

Motor Skill Activities

As an Occupational Therapist, I’ve worked a lot on motor skills. I’ve extensively helped parents work on their child with different motor skill activities. These help your child gain strength in his body. He can better adapt and learn everyday functions.

There are two kinds of motor skills: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills develop the big muscles of your child’s body like the arms and the legs. Fine motor skills work on the hand, wrist and the feet.

These dollar tree motor activities aim to develop both kinds of muscles. Some of the activities work on fine motor skills, and some focus on gross motor skills.

9 Dollar Tree Motor Skill Activities

Here are 9 Simple and Easy Dollar Store Motor Skill Activities you can try with your child:

Create Your Artwork

If your kids love using colors and markers, offer them a giant canvas- a shower curtain liner. It isn’t what traditionally kids draw on, but they can draw all they want on it- and there will still be some space left.

If you use these washable markers, you can extend the fun. Wash the liner and it’s good for another a few times.

Extend the Activity: Bring in watercolors and paints to turn this into a sensory play activity also.

Kick the Cup

That’s so easy to set up. Line five or six plastic cups half a foot apart from each other. Give your child these mini basketballs. Watch him enjoy kicking the cups down.

Extend the Activity: Number the cups. Ask your child to aim for a specific number. This way your child will learn numbers in a fun way while improving motor skills.

Sort The Pom Poms

Place the pom poms on a tray with a tweezer. Ask your child to sort the pom poms using tweezers into the right color boxes.

If your child is not comfortable using a tweezer in the beginning, help him out or let him use his hands.

Extend the Activity: Try adult tweezers. These are a little more challenging to hold and handle.

Bead Stacking Activity

Create a big ball using craft dough I let the kids play with the dough first. Once they mix all the colors, I create one giant ball and stick spaghetti sticks on them. Put these crafter’s pony beads on a small tray and help them string them on the

Extend the Activity: Get your child to copy patterns you create on your own spaghetti stick.

Pushing Straw in the Cup

Cut colored plastic straws into 3-inch pieces. Now get these plastic condiment cups with lids and punch holes in the lid. Guide your child to pass the straw into the cup through the straw hole.

Extend the Activity: You can even color code the plastic cups and get your child to also sort the colors while pushing the straw in the hole.

Sticker Activity

Create line patterns on a piece of colored paper. Get your kid to stick dot stickers on the line patterns. You can even tape this brown craft paper sheet on the wall for ease.

Extend the Activity: Now trace your child’s name or try out different shapes and numbers.

Water Fun

Fill a bucket of water. Throw in these Magic growing Dinosaurs. Have them fish out the dinosaurs using mesh strainers.

Extend the Activity: Make it more fun. Add some bubble bath.

Tape Activity

Stick tape in five different patterns on the floor. Ask your child to stand on one end of the tape. Give him a variety of directives. Hop or crawl to the end. Some other movements you might want to try out: jumping, running, dancing, etc.

Extend the Activity: Play Simon Says with the movements.

Find the Creature

Pour this decorative sand in a plastic tray. Toss in these backyard travel assorted plastic creatures. Hide them in the sand. Give your child a cooking spoon. Watch him dig out the creatures.

Extend the activity: Turn it into sensory play by adding leaves, rocks, and shells.

Dollar Tree Motor Skill Activities Shopping List

Here’s what you need to try out all the activities:

Here’s a copy of your list to print and take along to Dollar Tree:

I hope this article will give you lots of ideas on dollar tree motor skill activities for your toddler. If you notice your child struggling with motor skill development and are concerned, please reach out to set up a free consultation. I would love to help you determine your child’s individual needs. We are here to support you as you help your child blossom!

I’d love to hear your ideas as well. Please join us in our FREE Facebook community to share!

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