Fine motor skills are responsible for controlling small muscles in our bodies. They help us use our fingers, hands, lips, eyes, or tongues, among many other parts of our bodies, accurately.

However, these skills are not separate from the whole body's physicality. They develop alongside our core strength, coordination, and gross motor skills, as we almost always use them together.

Babies start developing fine motor skills as soon as they start waving their arms and fingers, trying to grab your fingers or their favorite toys. This development of their fine motor control lasts throughout our lives.

It starts with fine motor skills toys and continues with learning how to use utensils, writing, using a phone, playing an instrument, working with tools, and more. Humans employ fine motor skills all the time, be it at school, work, or home.

The earlier a child starts to practice fine motor skills, the more independent and confident they will become. Knowing how to tie their shoes, make their beds, and prepare and pack their lunches are skills every child is proud of. All of these depend on proper fine motor skills practice and control.

Moreover, teaching children to become independent and building up their confidence is one of the core principles of the Montessori method and education that we closely follow.

One of the great time-savers is having your kid know how to dress themselves from their heads to their toes. The sooner they are able to do so, the better. You can start when they are really young by letting them put on their shirts and jackets.

Later on, as they get more control over their fingers, you can encourage them to start tying their shoelaces on their own, zipping their coats, or buckling their belts. Motivating them to do these things independently as much as possible is important.

During the first few years, dinner time can look really messy. Toying with food, throwing it on the floor, or saying it’s “yucky” is part of many babies’ and toddlers’ meals. However, once they start using utensils, their lunchtime begins to look like a grown person’s one.

Begin by handing them plastic or silicone spoons so that they can’t hurt themselves. You can do this as soon as you think your toddler is able to hold a spoon and use it somewhat efficiently.

Encourage them to try to pick up food and feed themselves without spilling. As they get older, you’ll even trust them with opening tin cans.

Cavities are the number one children’s chronic disease in the United States. Insufficient personal hygiene, sodas, and sweets (basically anything with sugar) can cause tooth decay.

That’s why it’s important to create a teeth-brushing and flossing routine when your child is still young. Get a soft toothbrush and let your child brush their teeth on their own. Show them a correct technique and ask them to practice at least twice daily.

This child’s journey starts with scribbling, then it moves to coloring books, and finally to drawing simple shapes and writing a few less complex letters. Some children start writing at the age of four or five, and some later.

This whole process, from scribbling to actual writing, depends on the development of fine motor skills. As children gain more control over their fingers and their movement becomes more precise, their drawing and handwriting become more consistent.

We are witnessing an incredible rise in technology development. Every device we have these days is smart - from phones, intercoms, ovens, coolers, fridges, etc. And we all swipe, touch, press, click, and use our hands and fingers in a way we have never used them before.

Even though we oppose using phone screens as children’s entertainment, we can’t ignore them. Whether we like it or not, using a phone screen employs fine motor skills.

With this toy, little ones will learn how to spell by placing letters in their designated places. This game comes with cards with pictures and dotted letters that spell out that picture.

Your child’s task is to find the required letters and place them in the correct position. That way, they will learn the name of the object in the picture and how it’s spelled and practice their fine motor skills simultaneously.

You have many options when choosing toys to help your little one develop fine motor skills. However, always keep in mind that those toys need to be safe.

Another thing to keep in mind is that toys that focus on fine motor skills development usually have small parts, which can be a choking hazard. Therefore, you should watch closely as your child plays with them if they’re still in their mouthing phase.

Every new toy that can help develop fine motor skills is a great investment. Every fine motor skill developed this way creates new neural connections in your kid's brain and helps them grow. For the fine motor skill toys to work, you must consider kids' ages - only because the best toys are the most engaging.

Be it wooden blocks, a building toy, or a shape sorter - it should be challenging but not too hard. We have sorted our Montessori toys by age, so you can find the best toys for toddlers, babies, and preschoolers in just a few clicks.