DECEMBER 2025
Upcoming Events
December 2, ALL DAY - Please show your support for WHEN by making a donation on 12/2 through United Way’s ROC the Day. Visit this link to give. This effort is an important first step toward WHEN’s sustainability, and your support would mean the world to us! Whether you can give or not, please be sure to share this with your family and friends and encourage them to make a donation if they are able. Thank you!
December 10 at noon - Attend our December coalition meeting in person or online. Find out more or register for a reminder here.
January 8, 6:15 - 7:15 - Our first Family Game Night of this school year will be at Klem North! Klem North families may register here to attend this free event at your school, and volunteers are encouraged to sign up here. We're so excited to see you all again and share some new material!
Webster Headlines
Happy birthday to WHEN members celebrating in December:
Jennifer, Zach, Heather, Griffin, Barb, and Michael.
Please consider showing your support for WHEN and the crucial work we do in Webster with a donation on Tuesday, December 2. Thank you for any support you can give!
Smart Play for Small Hands
“Protective factors are conditions or attributes in individuals, families, and communities that promote the health and well-being of children and families.” - ChildWelfare.gov
By WHEN member, Dana Buccieri, MEd
‘Tis the season of toys! The holidays are upon us which often bring with them the buying of presents for our children, grandchildren, or a special young niece or nephew. What better gift for your little one than something that has a lasting impact? Yes, toys are more than that plastic stuff or small pieces that take up space in a home; they actually increase a child’s fine motor skills.
Fine motor skills are used in tasks like picking up objects, feeding oneself, threading, drawing, cutting, and dressing dolls, stuffed animals, or oneself. They usually develop after gross motor skills and require time, patience, and practice. By kindergarten, most children can grip a pencil or crayon, grasp objects, use scissors to cut lines, zip and button clothes, draw shapes and write the letters of the alphabet. Handwriting is especially important at this stage as it supports future academic success across subject areas.
The goals are manipulation, eye-hand coordination, and skilled dexterity. Each hand develops these skills separately, as well as both hands together;eventually, one hand becomes dominant. All of these essential fine motor skills will emerge in a predictable sequence as long as no neurological, cognitive, or sensory issues exist and if a child is provided the opportunities to develop and grow these skills.
Fine motor skill development instills a sense of confidence in children early on in life. Mastery can accelerate the rate at which they can realize their own independence. Interestingly, emotional development is also influenced; expression of oneself artistically with paper, paints, or with musical instruments can be just as effective in expressing inner feelings, insights, and abilities. All such skills suggest heightened attention to detail, a foundational skill in problem-solving, memory, and learning.
Of course, the biggest attraction for children themselves is that most of these fine motor activities in which they feel they are successful are FUN!
Since a lack of exposure or experience can negatively impact a child, what better gift than providing your favorite tot with the gift that keeps on giving!
Who knows if our children will become concert violinists, fanciful florists, research scientists, mechanics, electricians, or future dentists, all from the start of preschool activities.
Here are milestones by age to determine if and where your child needs practice or if they are right where they need to be:
1-3 Years Old
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Ability to draw a line
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Ability to eat with minimal mess
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Able to use a spoon with minimal spilling
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Can scribble with pencils/crayons
3-6 Years Old
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Can draw a circle/square
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Can catch a bounced ball
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Can use scissors
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Can get dressed without assistance
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Can write legibly
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Able to write uppercase and lowercase letters and words
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Can draw stick figures
If your child struggles with some preschool fine motor activities, don’t panic! You can help them practice with simple activities to improve.
Spotlight
We would like to thank WHEN members, Dustin Bailey and Dana Buccieri for their work as Adult Advisors in the new Above the Influence programs at Spry (Dustin) and Willink (Dana). Having WHEN members as integral volunteers in this program allows us to stay connected, offer additional support where needed, and share our passion for healthy, substance-free youth. Thank you both for your great work and comittment to Webster youth!
Upcoming Meetings
We meet in person AND online via Google Meet the second Wednesday of each month at noon. Many of us join during our lunch break. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. In fact, our goal is to have representation from all walks of life, to better meet the needs of the whole community.
Read last month's Coalition Meeting Minutes.
