Every child is different, and some develop their fine motor skills earlier than others. But if your child is shy about using their fingers or doesn’t like to play with small toys, don’t worry — it’s never too late for them to become comfortable with their hands. Here are some tips for parents who want to encourage their children’s fine motor development:
Buy your little one a kids tricycle.
A kids tricycle is a great way to help your child develop fine motor skills. A bike will teach them how to coordinate their movements, work with the other parts of their body, and eventually balance on a bicycle with two wheels.
If you buy your child an expensive bike, they may only use it for a short time because they’re afraid it’s too fragile or precious. Instead, look for a cheap model that is easy to ride and won’t break if it gets knocked over or scratched in some way. You should also consider buying a helmet so that your child can avoid accidents while riding.
Get your child excited about crafts.
Crafts can be an exciting way for your child to learn about the world around them. It also helps them develop fine motor skills and a sense of pride, which you all want your children to experience.
There are many crafts that you can do with your child that will help them develop their fine motor skills, but here are some ideas:
- Painting with watercolours is a great way to work on hand-eye coordination while learning the basics of creating art. This can be done outside or even on paper taped onto the wall.
- A simple craft like making a picture frame out of popsicle sticks and glue celebrates creativity and allows children to use their hands in new ways as they shape things together into something beautiful.
Take it slow and start with the basics.
The best way to improve your child’s fine motor skills is to take it slow and focus on one skill at a time. If you rush the process, your child may become frustrated and give up entirely—and then you’ll have wasted all that time. It’s also important not to worry about what other kids are doing or how well they’re doing it. You can’t compare your child’s progress with other children because every child develops at their own pace.
Be patient — like any other skill, fine motor skills take time to develop.
You can’t expect your child to master a new skill in a day. Like any other skill, fine motor development takes time and practice, so don’t get frustrated if they cannot use chopsticks or hold a pencil properly right away or just try to teach them how to ride a tricycle.
If you compare your child with other children their age and find that they lack some fine motor development, keep going. Many factors affect how quickly a child develops the ability to perform specific tasks with their hands: their personality type, what activities they enjoy doing, and how much time they spend practising those activities all come into play here.
Invite friends over for a playdate.
Inviting friends for a playdate is a great way to get kids moving, which helps them develop social skills and explore their environment. They’ll also have more fun riding a kids tricycle outside if they know their friends are waiting for them.
It’s easy to work on fine motor skills with children if you approach it from their perspective.
Fine motor skills are essential for drawing, writing, and even manipulating small objects like buttons and zippers. Children can do more independently as they grow and develop fine motor skills. That’s why it’s important to start working on this skill early. Here are some ways you can help preschoolers develop better fine motor skills:
- Don’t be afraid to take it slow. If a child has trouble with a specific activity or task, expect them to do only some immediately. Instead of pushing them along too fast, give them time and encouragement so that they feel comfortable doing the activity before increasing the difficulty level or complexity of the task at hand (such as making more giant letters).
- Don’t be afraid they won’t get it right away. There’s no need to worry when something doesn’t go exactly as planned; this is where patience comes into play again. Some things will become more accessible than others. Still, every step forward counts towards getting better at that particular action/skill set, so celebrate each success, however small it may seem at first glance (even if there aren’t many successes yet).
These tips will help you improve your child’s fine motor skills. Remember that it’s essential to start with the basics and be patient. As any parent knows, teaching a child new skills can take time, but don’t worry — with these strategies, you’ll be on your way toward helping your little one build up their fine motor skills in no time.
