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As a mom and an occupational therapist, I can’t stress enough how important fine motor skills are for toddlers. These are the small muscle movements in the hands and fingers that help with everyday tasks like holding a pencil, buttoning a shirt, or using utensils.
Developing strong fine motor skills early on builds the foundation for writing, self-care, and coordination later in life. The best way to strengthen these skills? Through play! Here are some tried-and-true toys that make a real difference, which I have used with clients and my own children:
1. Melissa & Doug Wooden Lacing Beads: These colorful wooden beads are perfect for threading and sorting. They help strengthen hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, and concentration. Plus, the bright colors and fun shapes keep kids engaged.
2. Fat Brain Toys SpinAgain Stacking Toy: This stacking toy is a hit with toddlers! I like to have my two kids play with it together and they spend a good amount of time playing while I can do some work. The spinning discs provide a satisfying sensory experience while improving hand strength and coordination. The chunky pieces are easy for little hands to grab.
3. Hape Shape Sorter: A shape sorter teaches problem-solving and spatial awareness. The Hape version is made from high-quality wood and painted with non-toxic colors, so you don’t have to worry about safety. I prefer wooden toys over plastic but don't worry yourself too much in the long run over the material, just as long as it is safe for the kids to play with.
4. Play-Doh with Shape Cutters: Play-Doh is a classic for a reason! Squishing, rolling, and cutting the dough helps develop hand strength and finger control. The different colors and molds add a creative element that keeps toddlers entertained for a good while. You can play with your child or they can play alone, while supervised, there is infinite shapes they can make and it can really grow their imagination.
5. Montessori Peg Board Set: Pegboards are fantastic for building pincer grasp and hand strength. The Montessori set comes with colorful pegs and pattern cards to work on both fine motor skills and early math. This can be used also for counting, colors, shapes, stacking, and teaching their siblings.
Toys like these make working on fine motor skills feel like playtime, which means your toddler will want to keep practicing. And honestly, watching them improve while having fun is one of the best feelings as a parent. It’s incredible to see how quickly their confidence grows when they start mastering new skills—whether it’s threading beads or stacking pegs. You’ll notice them getting better at holding crayons, turning pages in books, and even feeding themselves more easily.
Plus, playtime becomes more meaningful because they’re not just entertained—they’re developing skills that will help them in preschool and beyond. It’s amazing how something as simple as sorting shapes or spinning discs can lay the foundation for future writing, cutting, and even sports. So, while it might seem like just play, these toys are actually setting your little one up for success—and giving you some proud parenting moments along the way.