Using Building Toys to Develop Fine Motor Skills
There is quite a bit of talk about developing fine motor skills in children. However, many parents do not really understand what that means. Fine motor skills refer to the skills using the muscles in the hand in coordination with the eyes. Examples include manipulating buttons and laces all the way up to sewing and working with small pieces. Development of these skills begins during the first year and continues up through childhood.
There are many toys out there that can help develop these fine motor skills. One great way to work these muscles in conjunction with eye coordination is through the use of building toys. Check out My Child Playhouses to find a number of such sets.
The early preschool years are the best time to bring out these building toys. Children at this age usually have good hand and eye coordination and also have the strength and dexterity in their hands to make this a fun activity. Building toys also offer the chance to be creative and develop the imagination as well.
A great beginning building set is the GuideCraft Magneatos set. The pieces are large and easy for small hands to manage. The pieces link together through the use of magnets and offer hours of endless fun. There is also a GuideCraft Magneatos Intermediate set for older children. The pieces are smaller and offer a more advanced set for children with better dexterity. Children can make more intricate designs that are every bit as imaginative!
A fun alternative for toddler and preschool age children is a set of International Playthings Geokid Animal Links. This set features three animal shapes in a number of bold colors. Fine motor skills are worked by linking the shapes together. An added bonus is the ability to use this set for color recognition!
For children who enjoy designing their own artwork, you may want to check out the International Playthings Fantacolor Daisy. Colored pegs come in six brilliant colors and fit into the daisy-shaped pegboard. Children can create designs of their own or follow one of the patterns shown in the example booklet. Hand and eye coordination is worked along with the imagination! For younger children, the International Playthings Junior Fantacolor may be a better choice. This set comes with chunky pegs which make it safer for the younger set. Picture sample cards are included to help teach patterns and following directions as well.
Finally, for the older child with a broad imagination, there is the Learning Journey Learning Techno Gears Marble Mania set. This set includes gears, channels, mills, and more so your child can create a variety of different marble runs. It even features a motor! With a wide variety of pieces, children can create any number of new creations and watch the marbles drop through the run. Working with these pieces help develop even stronger fine motor skills while teaching about engineering and mechanics.
