5 Toys for Developing Fine Motor Skills

The term fine motor skills generally refers to the refined use of the smaller muscles that control the thumb, fingers and hand to perform small movements, often in conjunction with the eyes (referred to as hand-eye coordination). Developing fine motor skill efficiency is essential for performing everyday life tasks, from buttoning your shirt and tying your shoe laces, to writing a note or feeding yourself. Send A Toy stocks a great selection of toys that have been specifically designed to assist children in improving their fine motor skill abilities, enabling them to utilise their hands and fingers to achieve fine-motor related tasks. Here are five of our favorites:

Stringing and Threading Sets

Developing fine motor skills while threading is a quiet activity for toddlers and preschoolers. The act of threading requires concentration and hand-eye coordination, while encouraging the use of pincer grasp (using the index finger and thumb to pick up and hold small objects).

Totem Zen by Djeco

Totem Zen is an exciting game of both skill and quick reflexes. Players must be the first to recreate the image on their card by collecting beads from the pile before their opponents do. Sounds easy? There is a catch! The players must use chopsticks to handle the beads! Chopsticks are a quick and easy way to work on fine motor skills with kids as fingers must work in conjunction to clamp the object.  Eye to hand control is then required to move and position the grasped objects. Totem Zen is great for kids ages 6 and up.

Plan Toys Balancing Boat

Plan Toys Balancing Boat is another take on chopstick use, this time for preschool age children. Players first roll the die and then attempt to pick-up (with chopsticks) the animal that corresponds to the colour  the player has just rolled.

Hammer Tap Sets

Hammer tap sets are fantastic to have on hand for assisting fine motor development. Operators are required to grasp then hold small nails, while knocking them into position with a small hammer. This process requires the use of pincer grip, hand-eye control and concentration and is considered to be a great activity for fine motor development.

K'nex Construction Kits

K'nex sets consist of interlocking plastic rods, connectors, blocks, gears, wheels, and other components, which can be pieced together to form a wide variety of models. As children piece together the components to create awesome structures, they are also giving their fine motor abilities a fabulous workout.