Inspire Your Kids With the Best Fine Motor Activities
Children under two years go through a lot of physical and mental development. They’re not only growing but also learning a variety of skills, including fine motor skills. An expert-approved way of helping your child improve their motor skills is using toys and activities. These activities should be safe, age-appropriate, and feature-rich to help kids learn more. But finding the right exercises and choosing the right toys for young kids can be challenging. Anything with small parts or sharp edges is a big no because it can be a choking hazard for toddlers and preschoolers. So, you need exciting and engaging activities that don’t pose any threat to young kids. This is a pretty daunting task because there are hundreds of activities available for children. To help you find the right one for your kid, we’ve curated this guide with reviews of some of the top-rated fine motor activities of 2023.
Fine Motor Activities Buying Guide
Some parents don’t consider the benefits of fine motor activities for their children. However, these activities are essential for your child’s development. They help your child develop the ability to control their hands and fingers, a necessary skill for writing, drawing, and other tasks. But finding the right activities for your child can be challenging when you have to wade through hundreds of options. Here is a guide to help you find the perfect activities for your kid.
What to Look for While Buying Fine Motor Activities
Age-appropriateness
It’s important to choose activities that are appropriate for your child’s age. If an activity is too easy, your child will get bored quickly. Similarly, kids can easily become frustrated with complex activities and give up.
Appropriate difficulty level
Look for activities that will challenge your child without being too complicated. The goal is to find something exciting enough to keep your child engaged.
Interests
Choose activities that match your child’s interests. If your child loves animals, look for activities that involve drawing or building with animal figures. If your child enjoys music, look for activities that include making instruments or playing with rhythm sticks.
Variety
Choose a variety of activities so your child doesn’t get bored. Fine motor activities include coloring, painting, cutting, gluing, threading beads, and much more.
Safety
Make sure the activities you choose are safe for your child. Avoid anything with small pieces that could be choking hazards, and avoid activities that involve sharp objects.
Durability
Choose durable toys and educational materials that will last for a while. Some toys, such as building blocks, can be used repeatedly, while coloring books may only be used once.
Types of Fine Motor Activities
There are a wide variety of fine motor activities available. Here are a few different types to consider:
Lacing beads
This is an excellent activity for kids learning how to use their fingers. Lacing beads help your child develop the fine motor skills needed for tasks such as tying shoelaces.
Busy boards
Busy boards are a great way to keep kids entertained while helping them develop fine motor skills. They usually consist of a board with different activities, such as turning dials, sliding beads, and flipping switches.
Coloring books
These are always popular with kids, and there are endless options available. You can find coloring pages and books for every theme imaginable. Many also come with activity sheets involving other fine motor skills, such as cutting or gluing.
Puzzles
Puzzles are a great way to help your child develop problem-solving skills. They also help your child develop patience and concentration. Start with simple ones with large pieces, then move on to more challenging ones as your child’s skills improve.
Benefits of Using Fine Motor Activities
Improve motor skills
Many activities can help your child develop the ability to control their hands and fingers. These activities are essential for your child’s development and can help improve their motor skills.
Build patience
Another benefit of these activities is that they can help your child build patience. These activities often require a lot of focus and attention. They may also be frustrating at times. But, if your child sticks with it, they will learn to be patient and persevere through challenging tasks.
Develop basic life skills
Fine motor activities can also help your child develop essential skills that they will need later in life. These activities can help them develop their hand-eye coordination, for example. They can also help them learn how to control their hands and fingers.
Here Are the Top Fine Motor Activities of 2023
3 Bees & Me Fine Motor Activity – Best Overall
The 3 Bees & Me Fine Motor Activities are made for toddlers who are still developing their skills. These 50 colorful beads with three lacing strings show your child how to use their hands in a great way while having fun. This package provides excellent entertainment for preschoolers and toddlers while building their learning skills.
Your child can create various shapes with these beads and can be engaged for hours without disturbing you. These can also educate your child about different shapes and colors. Due to its durable and sturdy construction, this product tops our list.
Pros
- Easily portable while traveling
- The plastic construction makes it long-lasting
- Large enough pieces to prevent a choking hazard
Cons
- The laces are too thin
BYONEBYE Fine Motor Activity – Lightweight Pick
The BYONEBYE Fine Motor Activities is the perfect educational toy that combines life skills with fun. This skill board comes with 12 different activities, including a zipper, button, laces, snap, Velcro, and horn buckle. Your child will learn practical life skills by spending time with this busy board. This learning board also helps toddlers to develop hand-eye coordination abilities.
This soft felt wool product comes with a removable carry strap making it convenient for your kids. They can easily carry it around and clip it on a stroller, shopping cart, diaper bag, high chair, and car seat. The bus has a bright color and a detachable wheel to attract children’s attention.
Pros
- Easy to play and develop essential life skills
- Perfect for carrying on a trip to eliminate boredom
- The 50-inch strap makes it easy to carry around
Cons
- Melts down easily
Skoolzy Fine Motor Activity – Easy to Clean
The Skoolzy Fine Motor Activities are made with materials that are safe for your child’s health. These are made with non-toxic and BPA-free plastic materials. The package includes a tote bag, four lacing strings, and 36 jumbo lacing beads in six shapes and seven colors.
Since these are made with high-quality plastic, you can easily clean these jumbo-sized toys after your kids are done playing. They are also perfect for your toddler’s little hands so they can enjoy themselves. The tote bag makes it easy to carry them on trips and tours.
Pros
- Improves children’s shapes and colors concepts
- Made with lead-free and no phthalate materials
- Large pieces for ease of handling
Cons
- The plastic tips are not rolled properly
DeMoca Fine Motor Activity – Best for Variety
The DeMoca Fine Motor Activities busy board is carefully designed for kids to learn and play simultaneously. With this item, your child learns how to solve the labyrinth, click the switch button, and spin the gear wheels. It also teaches them how to tie their shoelaces and use a zipper.
This busy board is made with wood and features bright rainbow colorful pieces on top of it. It can keep your kids active and engaged during long car rides. Moreover, it can be an excellent gift for your relatives and loved ones.
Pros
- It comes with five different types of skills
- Made with durable and natural wood material
- It keeps kids busy on long and hectic rides
Cons
- Pieces might break off
Learning Resources Fine Motor Activity – Budget-Friendly Pick
The Learning Resources Fine Motor Activities are excellent products for building essential motor skills and learning to count and sort. It can also help in children’s color recognition skills. This educational toy is made with chunky, peg-shaped pieces that can fit into the back of this hedgehog shape.
Its spikes can be used for occupational therapy exercises. These are the right-sized toys for little preschoolers and toddlers’ hands to hold. The quills can be easily stored inside the hedgehog when the playtime is over.
Pros
- Used to develop hand-eye coordination
- Easy to clean and easy to store
- It comes with 12 various colored quills
Cons
- The quills are too soft
People Also Asked
A: Anything that requires using small muscles in the hands and fingers helps enhance motor skills. This includes fine motor activities like cutting with scissors, drawing, threading beads, and using tweezers.
A: Some children might need to participate in fine motor activities daily, while others only a few times a week. So, it depends on your child’s progress level.
A: No, every child does not need fine motor activities. However, these activities can benefit children who struggle with coordination or dexterity. These activities can also help those having trouble with tasks that require using hands and fingers (such as writing or drawing).
