The Impact of Montessori Toys on Fine Motor Skills Development

Zipping a jacket, screwing a lid on a jar, turning a doorknob. All of us take these small actions for granted. But for kids, they can be really challenging. However, all it takes is practice.

Whether you're aware of it or not, fine motor skills are central to both daily and academic life. As Dana Sciullo, a pediatric occupational therapist, explains, the harmony between vision and touch is extremely important for your child's development. Her research shows a correlation between these skills at an early age and success later in life.

The "fine motor" in "fine motor skills" refers to all those small body muscles - finger, toe, and even eye muscles - that allow us to accomplish everyday tasks. That means "fine motor skills" refers to our ability to control and use these muscles to accomplish complex actions.

Some examples of fine motor skills include:

• Holding objects between the thumb and forefinger
• Using basic utensils like spoons, forks, and knives
• Threading beads onto a single string

Even though most of these tasks are accomplished on "autopilot," they still require fully developed fine motor skills and practice.

Fine motor skills aren't just important in adulthood. They're also crucial for your toddler. Here's what we mean:

For a child, physical development isn't isolated. Physical development includes hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, gross and fine motor skills, and many more. All of these skills are connected and dependent on one another.

You want your child to be as independent as possible at every stage of life, right? Even small acts of independence will prepare them for challenges later in life. Fine motor control is synonymous with self-reliance. A toddler with adept motor skills can solve a puzzle independently or manage a zipper without assistance, fostering a sense of accomplishment.

These refined skills play a central role in essential self-care tasks. You don't want to continue feeding your kid until grade school? Fine motor skills are integral to a child's self-sufficiency journey, from feeding oneself to tying shoelaces.

Beyond self-care, think about the daily tasks that lean on fine motor coordination. Whether flipping through a book's pages or operating a remote control, we use our small muscles basically every hour we're awake. Helping your child keep these muscles active will help them start doing small activities without thinking and gaining new abilities quickly. 

Unsurprisingly, fine motor skills are important in school, too. For instance, writing requires refined motor skills. And if these skills aren’t fully developed, your child might find it hard to keep up with schoolwork. The struggle can start as early as first grade, where some children tend to avoid tasks they find too challenging.

Now, let's see how the Montessori method fits and helps with fine motor skills. 

According to the Montessori method, your child needs to start working on developing fine motor skills as early as possible. And keep in mind - these skills don't mean much in isolation. They're closely intertwined with a child's broader physical, cognitive, and emotional growth.

The Montessori takes a unique approach to supporting fine motor skills development:

• Early start: The Montessori method introduces kids to activities that promote fine motor development around their first birthday. The early exposure helps children grow up with a strong foundation in hand-eye coordination and other fine motor skills.

• Educational gymnastics: A cornerstone of Montessori's philosophy is 'educational gymnastics.' This method focuses on refining finger coordination and guiding children through exercises that build agility and strength.

• Practical life exercises: A key component of Montessori is the 'practical life' curriculum. It consists of activities that mirror daily life tasks, such as using dressing frames or tongs to move objects. These seemingly simple tasks offer children opportunities to refine their motor skills while developing a sense of independence.

Through these methods, Montessori doesn't just teach children to hold on to a pencil or a glass of water. It prepares them for more challenging tasks later in life. Our physical dexterity is a cornerstone of many, many complex skills we need to function properly in society.

While the Montessori method lets kids discover things on their own, a little nudge can help a lot. That’s why we created a list of fun Montessori toys that will give your child’s fingers a big skill boost. Here are three Montessori toys for 2-year-olds that will sharpen their skills through play:

The role it plays: A great tool for independence and sensory stimulation for your child.

Toy features: Includes various fabric pieces that can be buttoned or unbuttoned, zippers that can be zipped or unzipped, and all sorts of belts and buckles.

Toy benefits: Improves finger agility, promotes hand-eye coordination, and cultivates problem-solving instincts.

The role it plays: A toy that teaches shapes and colors and improves spatial awareness.

Toy features: Although the toy looks simple, it's rather effective in refining motor skills. It contains several different shapes and sizes of blocks.

Toy benefits: Helps children improve pattern recognition and nurtures spatial awareness. A first lesson in geometry.

The role it plays: A toy that teaches the basics of STEM education with playful exploration.

Toy features: The eggs have smooth edges that guarantee your child's safety. They also offer a variety of shapes and colors that will keep your child engaged in play.

Toy benefits: Beyond being a durable toy, it aids toddlers in understanding shapes and colors. Holding, examining, and combining these eggs helps ingrain the basics of geometry and color recognition.