Little Hands, Big Milestones: Nurturing Fine Motor Skills at Moms and Tots

Fine motor skills are the building blocks for a child’s future ability to perform tasks that require precise hand-eye coordination improved concentration and cognitive processing, and gaining independence. Between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, children are in a critical developmental window where they begin to fine-tune their ability to control small muscles in their hands and fingers.

It is essential to prepare children for life tasks like writing, feeding, dressing, and play. This will directly impact their ability to gain independence in self-care activities and build the skills they need for school readiness.

In toddlers, the ability to manipulate small objects also lays the groundwork for future academic skills, particularly in writing. By practicing fine motor tasks, children build the strength and dexterity necessary for holding a pencil or crayon, an essential precursor for handwriting. Toddlers who struggle with fine motor skills may find it harder to keep up with peers as they enter preschool or kindergarten. So, getting started early helps children develop confidence in their abilities and prevents frustration down the road.

Moms and Tots Activities

We focus on tasks that require precise hand movements and strengthening small muscles while also being enjoyable.

1. Building with Blocks: Playing with small blocks like LEGO Duplo or stacking wooden blocks encourages children to use their fingers to grasp, manipulate, and stack objects. This activity develops hand strength and coordination while also teaching spatial awareness.

2. Scribbling and Drawing: At this age, children enjoy scribbling with crayons or markers. Holding these tools promotes the development of the tripod grasp, which is essential for writing later on. Providing large sheets of paper allows children to experiment with different hand movements, enhancing their control.

3. Stringing Beads or Pasta: Threading large beads or even uncooked pasta onto a string is an excellent activity for hand-eye coordination. It helps children develop the pincer grip, a fine motor skill needed for tasks such as buttoning clothes or picking up small objects.

4. Playdough: Molding, rolling, and squishing playdough strengthens hand muscles while giving toddlers the freedom to be creative. They can use tools like cookie cutters, which require precision in handling, or they can manipulate the dough with their hands, which builds both strength and coordination.

5. Finger Painting: This is messy, but it’s a great way to build fine motor skills. The use of fingers to create patterns on paper allows children to practice controlled movements, while also stimulating their sensory experiences.

6. Simple Puzzles: Puzzles with large pieces are perfect for toddlers. Lifting and placing pieces encourages hand-eye coordination and fine control over finger movements. As they master this, children gain confidence in manipulating objects that require precision.

The Milestones

By the age of 3, children should be showing progress in their ability to manipulate small objects, control their hand movements, and use tools like spoons or crayons. Toddlers should be developing skills that help them gain independence in feeding, dressing, and hygiene. At this stage, it is common to see children:

• Using both hands together to complete tasks (such as holding a toy with one hand while manipulating parts with the other).

• Attempting to draw basic shapes like circles or lines.

• Beginning to use scissors with some assistance.

• Learning to do simple self-care tasks such as feeding themselves with a spoon or attempting to put on socks.

It is also important to recognise the role that fine motor development plays in social and emotional growth. Being able to successfully complete tasks boosts a child’s self-esteem and sense of autonomy. A sense of accomplishment is so good for their well being!

Fine motor skills are a cornerstone of a child's overall development during the early years. Make learning fun for the best outcome and make sure that your child is supported during the process.

Join Moms and Tots | The Parks for a weekly two hour workshop, where all of this and more is included. Every class finishes with a mom social and engagement for your tot with others.  It’s such fun and we’d love to have you!