Tips To Stimulate Your Child’s Fine Motor Skills – Being Parents

The fine psychomotricity evolves considerably from the 18 months of the baby’s life and until his 3 years. Thus, the child’s ability to grasp and handle small objects with the hands improves over time.

Theoretically, by the age of three, the vast majority of children are able to take very small things in their hands without any difficulty. However, a small percentage of children may still not have good control over their hand movements at this age.

These children have not yet reached the psychomotor development expected at their age; It is therefore important to practice exercises with them in order to stimulate this important motor skill. Over time, the dexterity of your child’s fingers and hands will increase.

It is quite possible to strengthen the fine motor skills of babies and children,  thanks to the series of tips and games that we offer you here.

Games and activities that improve fine motor skills

There is a wide variety of games designed to improve the fine motor skills of the youngest.  Children using these games from an early age will avoid difficulties in developing their dexterity.

Below are some simple or guided activities to play with your baby or child and at the same time help them develop their psychomotor skills. 

Remember that the development of psychomotor skills is linked to the growth and maturity of your child.  But if a deficiency or delay is found, these practical activities will help to make up for this delay.  Do not hesitate to also consult your specialist.

Open one hand while the other closes

Your child can start this exercise slowly and gradually gain speed.

Open and close the fingers of the hand

At first, your child’s fingers should open and close all together. Then the fingers open and close alternately while going faster and faster.

Touch each finger of the hands with the thumb of the same hand

You must gradually increase the speed of the exercise to see progress.

Do and undo

To stimulate fine motor skills, children can button and unbutton, tie and unfasten the laces of their shoes, insert and remove objects or screw and unscrew lids or nuts from a set.

Art or music to stimulate fine motor skills? 

Your child can play with plasticine, drum, or play an  imaginary instrument on the table at home. As glass as possible!

Where is that little finger? 

The exercise consists of closing your fist and then letting the little fingers come out of the closed point one after the other, starting with the little finger.

Nothing is more fun than practicing aiming! 

Set a target that your child will try to aim with objects.

Connect dots with each other 

Give your child a piece of paper on which several dots are drawn forming a figure. The idea is that the little one binds them together by making lines that will end up creating a beautiful design.

Art !

Drawing ,  painting, coloring, cutting out and even solving mazes can be very helpful in improving fine motor skills.

Wooden or rubber puzzles

We are not talking about the typical puzzle; we are referring here to the game of inserting specific figurines into the hole provided for this purpose.

There are therefore many activities that can be carried out from the baby’s 18 months in order to develop his dexterity. Several of them require a more solid skill level, while others are much more basic and elementary.

Without a doubt, the suggestions we offer you are nothing more than games and entertainment for children.

However, they have the invaluable ability to stimulate the motor skills of the child. In reality, these activities should develop unconsciously, but they will give you a little boost.