Motor Skill Development
After a few people asked about motor skill activities, I started making a list of things we have used in our own home or plan to use in the future. I am writing this list in developmental order to help mamas find the right activities for their little ones. Please be mindful that the “age appropriateness” range on all toys are just a guideline and you should use your own judgements when selecting toys for your child that is developmentally appropriate.
Books
Books are a great gift for babies and toddlers because even the easiest baby book can be used with a kindergartner who is learning to read basic sentences. Books are great fine motor tools for all ages. Start fine motor training with turning pages of a board book then progress to books with paper pages. Flip books can also be used for fine motor skills as children will need to manipulate their fingers to pull up on the tab. Here's a couple of our favorite books!
Play dough
Whether you prefer the store brand or to make your own play dough is a great sensory toy that can help build your little ones fine motor skills. When I first introduced play dough I let Lawson hold and play with it without guidance. This allowed him to understand the plasticity of the material. Once he understand that it could be manipulated we then began to manipulate using tools on his developmental level. These activities could include:
-Rolling dough (Bread, play dough) with a rolling pin
-Pressing cookie cutters into dough
-Using play dough scissors to make snips in the dough
-Use play dough scissors to cut modeling clay
-Roll play dough pre-writing shapes (horizontal/vertical lines and circle shapes)
-Squeeze putty or play dough
Painting
Painting is one of our favorite activities because we can create something that we can keep forever. When I began to use paint with Lawson I used a form of painting called plastic wrap painting. I would apply drops of different paints all over a canvas and then I would wrap the canvas in plastic wrap. Using this technique I did three things:
Avoided the messy cleanup because the paint was contained.
Avoided the disastrous color mixtures that always turn a depressing brown, black or gray.
Gave Lawson a fun way to use his motor skills to move various colors around a canvas.
Another motor skill technique is to put finger paint inside a plastic bag to practice lines and shapes.
Puzzles
Although some puzzles can be quite dull I have found that Melissa and Doug puzzles are the best on the market. Using shape puzzles, you child can practice fine motor skills while learning animals and instrument sounds. Once mastered the single shape puzzle you child may be ready to start putting together 3-4 piece puzzles and then progressing from there.
Melissa and Doug also make activity boards. They have an activity board with different locks that your child can lock and unlock and they also have an activity board for fastening buttons, tying shoe strings and using zippers. Melissa and Doug puzzles are a dream for motor development!
Bryant Parenting Hack: My little old soul loves this peg game from Cracker Barrel, and looks for one every time we sit down. I have bought him one as a stocking stuffer for him to play with when we go to any restaurant. I started by just giving him one peg to push in and pull out then I added more to peak his interest.