Inside: Wondering how you can help strengthen your toddler’s hand and fingers? Check out this collection of our favorite fine motor toys for toddlers. Classic, screen-free, and fun!
Two year olds are busy walking, running, perhaps even jumping.
Big things are happening with gross motor skills. But what about fine motor?
There are lots of toys on the market that focus on fine motor development. So many, in fact, that it can become overwhelming.
So I came up with a short and simple list of our favorite fine motor toys for toddlers.. These can be used at school, daycare, and at home. Many of them are classics that have been around for decades.
Take a look and see if you have these in your toy collection!
These stacking toys can be used starting at around 6 months and are enjoyed through preschool. Our 2 year olds love to stack, balance, and sort them. This helps develop hand/eye coordination, balance, and fine motor skills.
We have several of these wood puzzles with large knobs. They are a perfect first puzzle because of the extra-large knobs and larger pieces. The knobs make it a bit easier for those smaller hands to remove each piece. Choose ones with matching pictures underneath, and then it also becomes a great matching game.
These are perfect for little hands! They not only develop fine motor skills, but also large motor. We add blocks and other pieces to stimulate creativity, too.
Lego® Duplos are perfect for our younger preschoolers who are just learning how to build. Duplos fit into those smaller hands and encourage discovery, fine motor skills, and open-ended play. We have collected so many pieces in my 15 years of teaching that they are now in a huge tub. I love how sturdy they are!
We use our easel every day. An upright surface promotes fine motor skills by strengthening the wrist. Fine motor development starts in the shoulder and eventually works its way down to the hand.
Toys such as Magna Doodles support the development of fine motor skills in the hands and fingers. These types of toys can be used before children are actually drawing and writing on paper.
Sheryl Cooper is the founder of Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds, a website full of activities for toddlers and preschoolers. She has been teaching this age group for over 25 years and loves to share her passion with teachers, parents, grandparents, and anyone with young children in their lives.
I share many ideas daily on my Facebook page. See the right sidebar of this blog to get connected to my Facebook page.
Erin Shaw
I saw a picture on your post about your daily schedule that had a little boy playing with a simple colorful roadway that can be connected and disconnected, like a train track. It had green tunnels and red bridges etc. a simple yet great buildable roadway. Do you know where that can be purchased?
Sheryl
Hi Erin – it’s made by Little Tikes, but they don’t make it anymore. It’s pretty old. I have seen it on E-Bay, though.
Do you have a list of toys for developing fine motor skills for one-year-olds?
I share many ideas daily on my Facebook page. See the right sidebar of this blog to get connected to my Facebook page.
I saw a picture on your post about your daily schedule that had a little boy playing with a simple colorful roadway that can be connected and disconnected, like a train track. It had green tunnels and red bridges etc. a simple yet great buildable roadway. Do you know where that can be purchased?
Hi Erin – it’s made by Little Tikes, but they don’t make it anymore. It’s pretty old. I have seen it on E-Bay, though.