Toys That Can Improve Your Child's Fine Motor Skills

Every parent wants their child to be successful. Right out of the womb (and probably way before then) parents spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out an angle that can give their child an edge in life, or at the very least help them develop into a strong, healthy child.

Testing and developing a child’s fine motor skills is highly important in knowing just where your child stands in terms of development, and it quickly points out their physical strengths and weaknesses. As a parent, you are on a constant search for toys that will help them develop their fine motor skills.

Fine motor skills are enhanced by toys and activities related to the use of a child’s hands. By finding toys and activities that develop fine motor skills, you are effectively providing a workout for your child’s small (intrinsic) muscles.

Here are just a few toys (related to activities) that are remarkable in helping a child develop their fine motor skills.

Keys and Locks: Toys that promote your child putting a key into a lock are quite good at helping develop fine motor skills. The child will need to manipulate the end of the key into the lock, which not only takes a good grip but also fierce concentration.

Play Dough: Play Dough is an obvious first choice for toys to help develop motor skills. Not only will the child be manipulating the actual dough (which is sometimes hard to twist and pull) but the child will also develop strength.

Puzzles: Jigsaw puzzles are great because the child is constantly handling small pieces and trying to manipulate them to fit.

Doing Crafts: Using scissors, drawing, and manipulating paper is a great way for a child to develop their fine motor skills while creating toys and playthings at the same time!

Toy Pianos: Toy pianos are great because they promote single finger movements, helping your child purposefully isolate and coordinate specific finger movements.

Write and Learn: There are several writing-type toys on the market that can be found at Toy R Us or any local toy store that promote writing. Remember those hand cramps you got as a child? Well, there is a reason you got those. Writing takes a great deal of hand agility and precise movements. This is perfect for developing your child’s fine motor skills.

Legos: Good old fashioned Legos are just fine for helping the child assemble pieces with their hands into larger objects. Who cares that you have no idea what the object is your child just created! As long as they are using their hands to assemble the Legos, you are happy!

Craft Easels: Encourage your child to do their artwork on an easel rather than your wall! This will allow them to be creative while manipulating a paint brush, pen, chalk or crayons.

Operation: What better game to play than Operation when it comes to developing fine motor skills? You can imagine your child trying to fit the little tweezers into the slot to grasp the part inside. And fun too!

Sorting Toys: Sorting toys such as colored blocks, cards and textured bags help develop the feel and grip in a child’s hands.

With the right type of toys, you can help your child develop an advanced level of fine motor skills that will last them a lifetime!