Most experts believe there is a connection between children's fine motor skills and their cognitive development. They cite the link between the baby's thoughts and actions as the reason for this. As can be understood from this, supporting babies' motor development is essential not only for their physical growth but also for their mental development.

In the article we prepared for you, we included toys and activities that will enhance children's fine motor skills. Enjoy reading!

Ask Them to Make Shapes with Play Dough

When it comes to fine motor skills, the first thing that comes to mind is play dough. Many activities can be done with play dough that will support children's motor development while also having a lot of fun. For example, you can ask your child to make various geometric shapes such as squares, rectangles, or triangles with play dough. This way, you will not only support your child's fine motor skills but also help them learn geometric shapes.

Shape Papers with Scissors

One of the most practical ways to support hand and finger development is to use scissors. You can ask your child to create various shapes using colorful A4 papers that will catch their interest. To make it even more fun, you can stick their favorite stickers on the paper. The only thing you need to pay attention to in this activity is to choose age-appropriate scissors for your child and not to leave them alone to prevent any potential accidents...

Get Puzzles

Puzzles are indispensable games for both cognitive development and the development of hand-eye coordination. Moreover, they are one of the rare activities that catch most children's interest. You can start with large puzzles with few pieces. As they grow older, you can gradually increase the difficulty level of the puzzles.

Draw Together

By the age of 3, most children have the ability to hold a pencil and draw, even if only a little. You can support your child's still-developing fine motor skills by drawing pictures together. Drawing not only helps your child's fine motor skills but also contributes to the development of their imagination.

Play Ball

When your baby is able to sit balanced, have them sit with their legs slightly apart. Then roll a soft ball towards them. Trying to reach for, catch, and even roll the ball back to you after learning is the first step in developing their motor skills.

Utilize Rattles!

You can also use rattles for younger babies. Babies love noise-making objects. Therefore, rattles are an attractive toy for most babies. Give your baby a rattle and show them how to shake it a few times. While your baby shakes the rattle, their hand-eye coordination will develop, and they will have a lot of fun.

Gather Objects That Will Catch Their Interest

Gather objects that your baby enjoys crumpling, holding, or throwing. For example, plastic plates, refrigerator bags, or any object at home that will interest your child and won't harm them while playing. Fill all of these in a container and place it in front of your child. While playing with those objects, they will develop their fine motor skills and get to know many new items.

Have a Bead Stringing Race

One of the activities that will both entertain your child and develop their fine motor skills is stringing beads. You can even add a bit of competition to make the fun a little more intense by turning the activity into a race.

Add Movement to Their Life

The key to developing your child's fine motor skills, as well as all motor skills, is to incorporate more movement and activities. By adding more movement to their daily life, such as play, walking, toys, and even sports, you can maximize the support for your child's physical development.