As a new mother, I dread the useless toys I would receive at baby showers, birthdays, and all the other occasions. I have been to a few of these events before having my little one know that I would create a registry and send it to family and friends who ask “What would you need for the baby?”. Don’t get me wrong I would accept any gift given, but to reduce the amount of fruitless and space-hoarding toys I found it best to make a list of age-appropriate toys that best impacts my child’s development.
As she got to preschool and toddler years, I became more aware of fine motor development and its significance in young children. Once she got enrolled in an early childhood program her preschool teacher further reinforced the importance of fine motor skill development, so I researched, tested, and tried the best fine motor skills toys to give my little one the best chance to thrive.
Based on that data, I have compiled the 30 best toys to improve fine motor skills for your preschooler or toddler.
Yes, I know, 28 seems like a lot! I am not saying you need to buy all 28 baby toys, absolutely not! If you know me, you would know that I am a DIY queen so I wouldn’t advocate for any parent to buy too many toys. I will link you to a post I wrote on 51 Activities to Achieve Fine Motor Goals which gives you a wide range of ideas to improve fine motor skills at little or no cost. This post simply gives you options for toys that work to improve the various fine motor skills while providing the three E’s to a great toy, entertaining, educational, and economical.
What are Fine Motor Skills?
Fine motor skills involve coordination of the small muscles of the hand, fingers, and toes to carry out precise everyday tasks such as holding utensils to eat, picking up small objects, and coloring with a crayon. Fine motor skills require the child to reach, point, touch, grasp, place, and release objects while carrying out the tasks.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, motor skill competence lays the foundation for physical activity. So you hereby see the importance of finding toys that will contribute to your child’s motor skill development.
Here are some of my favorite fine motor toys that can be used through various stages of the child’s development.
The Best Fine Motor Toys
- Wooden blocks
This is a simple toy for kids of all ages. Building blocks help hand-eye coordination as your little one uses precise movements carefully stacking blocks on top of each other. In addition, it can help with problem-solving and mathematics.
Amazon.com: Melissa & Doug Wooden Building Set – 100 Blocks in 4 Colors and 9 Shapes
- Play-doh
While molding play-doh, your child will be squishing, rolling, and pinching the dough strengthening those tiny muscles of the hands. It is a wonderful sensory play experience as they get excited by the feel of the play-doh squashed between their hands. Let their creativity run wild as they make unlimited shapes and designs. Play with play-doh does come with the added benefit of color recognition, as they come in an array of colors that can be blended too!
- Lego
This is a classic game for kids of all ages. It is an open-ended toy, which means there is no limit to how creative your little one can get with it. Build something new every day, while developing those finger and hand muscles as they snap together and pull apart the Lego pieces.
LEGO® Medium Creative Brick Box 10696 | Classic | Buy online at the Official LEGO® Shop US
- Stringing beads
Threading wooden beads onto a string exercises hand-eye coordination as precise movements are needed to complete the task. It helps with pre-writing skills, tying a shoe lace, and buttoning up a shirt.
- Shape sorters
They come in different shapes and are the perfect size for your little one to grasp and place in its correct place developing hand-eye coordination. The shapes come in different colors, so this allows the introduction of language as you name the shapes and colors.
- Sensory Bins
As the name suggests, this is excellent for sensory play. The bins are usually filled with rice, sand where the toddler is encouraged to practice scooping and pouring. Toys of different sizes and shapes can be hidden in the rice to be found for added fun. This sensory toy engages in cognitive tasks such as sorting and counting.
- Lace cards
They come with strings and holes that require placing the strings through the holes. Using this toy is a great way to improve hand-eye coordination as it requires precise movements to thread the cord through the holes in the cards.
- Puzzles
With the wide variety of puzzle types, even the youngest can get started exploring this fun toy. It is Another great way to strengthen hand-eye coordination by placing each piece of the puzzle in its correct position Puzzles are brain-building toys that help with problem-solving skills.
- Stacking Rings
This toy comes with a pole and rings of different sizes that are supposed to be stacked in the correct order based on size. This fosters problem-solving skills and the development of hand-eye coordination.
- Magnetic Tiles
It is for sure a good investment toy for older children. It promotes open-ended play fostering ingenuity as your child will use creativity to build whatever comes to mind.
Rainbow Creative Pack, 102 Pieces | Official Store
- Pegboards
This is great for little hands. It develops the small muscles of the hands and fingers. Refine the fine motor skills by adding strings to the mix allowing them to string them together. They will learn basic math skills by counting the pegs on the board.
- Play Kitchen set
Your little one will get lost in pretend play as she get her chance to be a little chef. Picking up small play utensils and balancing food on a tray will work the small and large muscles of the hands.
Amazon.com: ROBUD Wooden Play Kitchen Set for Kids Toddlers, Toy Kitchen Gift for Boys Girls, Age 3+
- Busy Board
They come in a variety of styles whether it may be manipulating a zipper, a lock, buttons, a light switch, Velcro. But the main focus is for your little one to grasp, pinch the attachments to exercise the small hand and finger muscles.
- Magnetic Fishing game
This toy uses a pole with magnets to pick up fish on the wooden board. This develops fine motor control and hand-eye coordination.
- Kinetic Sand
Your little one will get lost in play as they naturally love to play in dirt or sand. This kinetic sand kit will allow them to explore different textures as they squeeze and mold the sand strengthening the finger and hand muscles.
- Nesting or Stacking Cups
This toy is great for babies. This helps them to practice stacking cups on top of each other.
- Jumbo crayons
Through using jumbo crayons your child will get lots of practice with grasping and manual dexterity.
Amazon.com: Cra-Z-Art Jumbo Crayons, 8 Assorted Colors, 8/Pack (10203WM48)
- Sidewalk Chalk
This simple toy helps to develop pencil grasp, cognitive development, hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, and hand strength.
- Gardening game
Another great way to engage in pretend play. Your little one works their pincer grasp and whole hand grasping as they hold on to the small tools and see the seeds. Additionally, these tasks engage the whole body promoting gross motor development.
- Rubber band board
A rubber band board is a toy with pegs and rubber bands that children can stretch, loop, and twist to create different patterns and designs, improving their fine motor skills.
- Cutting Books
Believe it or not, some books are meant to be cut! They give your little lots of practice with scissors cutting along lines may it be straight, curved, or zig-zag. This works the small and large muscles of the hand and fingers improving manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
Preschool Cutting and Pasting (Highlights Learn on the Go Practice Pads)
- Cloth Book
During the first year, a cloth book can come in very handy as your little one turns the pages during tummy time. The pinching and grasping of the book pages can help improve the baby’s fine motor skills.
- Pom Pom Craft Kits
This is a great tool to develop a child’s fine motor skills such as eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity. Through playing the child will use the small muscles of the finger and hands to pick up the Pom Pom balls and guide them to the holes on the board.
- Rattle bottles
This makes a great first toy for young babies. It requires them to practice reaching and grasping for the bottle and shaking it developing the large hand muscles. The rattle bottles usually comes with small toys inside which can be grasped too to build the small finger and hand muscles.
- Musical instrument
Musical toys such as guitars, keyboards, and violins require a lot of finger and hand movements and manual dexterity. The intentional and repeated use of small and large muscles in hands is a sure way to fine-tune a child’s fine motor skills.
Hape Kid’s Wooden Toy Ukulele in Blue, L: 21.9, W: 8.1, H: 3 inch
- Learning resources spike the fine motor hedgehog
The hedgehog has peg-shaped quills that are guided to the holes on the bag of the hedgehog. The quills are the perfect size for young’s hands making them easy to grasp. This toy will stimulate the finger and hand muscles and eye-hand coordination.
Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog®
- Piggy Bank toy
Your little one has to pinch and grasp the small coins with the index finger and thumb working the small muscles in fingers while guiding the coins to the slot.
- Tool set
Your little one will enjoy playing pretend mechanic, construction worker, and carpenter. These sets come with tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, and drills. When manipulated to help with fine motor development, strengthen hand muscles and hand-eye coordination.
Amazon.com: VTech Drill and Learn Toolbox
Conclusion
Improving fine motor skills in children is essential for their overall development. By incorporating fine motor activities and toys into your child’s daily routine, we can help enhance their coordination, dexterity, and precision. In my personal experience, the key to utilizing these toys is to find the one that is suitable for your child’s age and to work at the pace of your little one. By consistently engaging children in these activities, we can help them develop important fine motor skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Creating a supportive and encouraging environment for fine motor play is crucial in helping them build confidence.
If you notice that your child is not progressing at the developmental stage, see occupational therapist.
