Getting ready for handwriting doesn’t always mean sitting down with a pencil.

Before little hands are ready to hold, control and move a pencil, they need plenty of opportunities to build strength, coordination and confidence through play.

And the best part? You probably already have plenty of things at home that can help.

From squishing playdough to threading, sorting and building, here are 7 simple screen-free activities that help little hands practise the skills they’ll eventually use for handwriting.

1. Play With Playdough

Squish it. Roll it. Pinch it. Poke it. Pull it apart.

All that play helps little hands and fingers build strength and control, laying the groundwork for holding and controlling a pencil later on.

Make it even more fun with Bandicute Play Clay Play Dough

Little ones can roll, squish and flatten the playdough before pressing the stampers into it to create their favourite Australian animals.

It might look like simple play, but every little squeeze, pinch and press gives those fingers a chance to practise.

And there's no right or wrong way to do it — just let them create!

2. Thread a Lacing Toy

Holding the lace, lining it up with the hole and pulling it through gets both hands working together while little fingers practise precise movements.

It's fine motor practice disguised as play.

Bandicute's Australian Animal Lacing Toys make this activity even more exciting. 🐨🦘

With adorable Australian animals like the koala and wombat, little ones can practise threading and pulling while building hand-eye coordination and control.

One hand holds while the other threads. They pull the lace through, find the next hole and keep going.

It's a simple activity that gives little hands lots of opportunities to practise — one hole at a time.

3. Pick Things Up With Tongs

Add tongs to a counting, sorting or sensory activity.

The squeezing and releasing motion helps strengthen little hands and encourages control of the thumb and fingers.

Try using tongs to pick up small animals, pom poms or other safe objects and move them from one container to another.

Want to turn it into a sensory adventure?

Set up a Bandicute sensory activity and add a few small objects for your little one to find, pick up and sort.

Can they find all the animals?

Can they sort them by colour?

How many can they move into the bowl?

There are so many ways to change the game while those little fingers keep squeezing, releasing and practising.

4. Post Things Through Slots

Coins into a cash register. Animals into their habitats. Even cards into a cardboard box.

Picking up, positioning and posting small pieces helps develop hand-eye coordination, precision and finger control.

And you can easily turn this into pretend play!

Bandicute's Toy EFTPOS Machine and Shop & Pay Cash Register are perfect for little shopkeepers. 🛒

Let your little one pretend to run their own shop, pick up play money and post coins into the register.

They're busy tapping, pressing, picking up and positioning things — all while their little hands are getting a workout.

Who knew playing shops could be such good fine motor practice?

5. Peel + Stick

Stickers are doing more than keeping them entertained!

Peeling them from the backing uses small, controlled finger movements, while positioning them works on hand-eye coordination.

Give your little one a sheet of stickers and let them create their own picture, scene or silly story.

For an extra creative activity, grab a Bandicute Art Journal and let them fill the pages with their ideas. ✨

They can peel, pick up, position and press each sticker exactly where they want it.

Don't worry if the stickers end up crooked or completely cover the page.

The goal isn't a perfect picture — it's giving those little fingers the chance to practise while having fun.

6. Build With Blocks

LEGO, Duplo, magnetic tiles or whatever you've got.

Picking up pieces, positioning them, pushing them together and pulling them apart gives little hands plenty of opportunities to build strength and control.

And when the tower falls down?

Build it again!

7. Get Them in the Kitchen

Kneading dough. Using cookie cutters. Peeling mandarins. Decorating biscuits.

Everyday activities can help little hands practise squeezing, pinching, twisting and manipulating objects.

It might get a little messy, but that's part of the fun!

Give them a small job to do and let them have a go.

They don't need to do it perfectly. They just need the opportunity to practise.

Little Hands Learn Through PLAY. ❤️

Before handwriting comes strength, coordination, control and confidence.

And those skills don't have to come from worksheets or pencil practice.

They can happen while your little one is squishing playdough, threading a lace, squeezing tongs, posting coins, peeling stickers or building a very impressive block tower.

So let them squish.

Thread.

Build.

Sort.

Squeeze.

Post.

Peel.

Play.

It's all learning.