Valentine's Day: Fine Motor Control Hearts | EYFS Printables

Early Years Valentine’s Day Activity: Fine Motor Control Hearts Template Sheets

Cultivate precision and dexterity with our lovely Valentine's Day: Fine Motor Control Hearts! These engaging printables are perfect for EYFS children, providing a beautiful and multi-faceted way to develop essential fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration.

Designed with charming heart patterns, these sheets are ideal for Preschool, Nursery, School, or for Parents and Childminders at home. They offer a versatile platform for mark-making, loose parts play, and even scissor skill practice, all wrapped in a sweet Valentine's theme.

(Note: Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity suggested on this page and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• 💡 How to use this resource in your classroom/setting

  Our Valentine's Day: Fine Motor Control Hearts are incredibly versatile and can be used in a multitude of ways across various early years environments:

  • Pencil Control & Mark Making:

    • Children can use a pencil, crayon, or felt-tip pen to make marks along the dotted lines, carefully tracing the heart designs. This directly strengthens pencil grip and control, crucial for emergent writing.

    • Once the tracing is complete, they can colour in each of the sections of their finished artwork, further refining their precision and creativity.

  • Loose Parts Activity:

    • Provide a variety of loose part materials such as small pom-poms, beads, buttons, mini erasers, or even dried beans.

    • Encourage children to place these objects along the dotted lines or within the different sections of the heart.

    • For enhanced fine motor development, children can use their fingers (pincer grip) or a tool such as tweezers to carefully pick up and place the items. This strengthens small hand muscles and promotes precision.

  • Scissor Skills Practice:

    • These sheets can be adapted to practise scissor skills. Draw thicker lines around the main heart shapes or key sections within them, and encourage children to carefully cut along these lines. (Always ensure appropriate supervision for scissor use).

  • Preschool, Nursery & Childminder Settings: Ideal for independent activity tables, continuous provision areas, or small group focus on developing pre-writing and manipulative skills.

  • Reception Class (EYFS): Use as a warm-up activity before handwriting, or as part of a 'busy box' to encourage sustained focus. The finished creations make lovely Valentine's gifts.

  • KS1 Classes (Year 1 & Year 2 School): Can be used for targeted fine motor intervention, a calming activity, or as a creative break. Children can also be encouraged to add intricate patterns or textures within the sections.

• 🎯 Learning objectives covered - 🐣 EYFS Framework

  EYFS Framework:

  • Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills): Children develop good control and coordination in handling tools and equipment. They strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers through tracing, manipulating loose parts, and using scissors.

  • Expressive Arts and Design: Children explore and use a range of media and materials, developing their own ideas and expressing creativity through their finished designs.

  • Communication and Language (Listening & Attention): Children demonstrate sustained attention and focus on the task.

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development (Self-Regulation): Completing the activity fosters concentration, perseverance, and a sense of achievement.

Download our Valentine's Day: Fine Motor Control Hearts today and help your EYFS learners strengthen essential skills with a touch of love!

⬅️ VALENTINE’S DAY Topic Page

⬅️ EMOTIONS & FEELINGS Topic Page

⬅️ KINDNESS & FRIENDSHIP Topic Page

⬅️ FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS Menu Page

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