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When it comes to child care, there are some parts of your child’s development that you can’t entirely control. However, there are a few aspects, such as the development of fine motor skills, that you can help improve by repeating simple physical activities. Learning more about fine motor skills will help you to encourage activities that will strengthen your child’s motor skills.

Understanding Children’s Fine Motor Skills

What Are Fine Motor Skills?

Children and infants use their developing fine motor skills to make small movements. From holding a ball to pushing a toy car, kids use motor skills to navigate their surroundings. These skills require constant communication between the brain and muscles, which means that there must be a strong development of both cognitive and physical processes throughout early child care years.

Child CareDuring their toddler years, children use fine motor skills to hold and use a pencil or crayon, use scissors to cut, or assemble building blocks. In addition to developing skills used in play, fine motor skills are also responsible for helping children hold and use eating utensils and open food containers. Even using a computer mouse in a preschool classroom or day care requires strong motor skills.

What Child Care Activities Encourage Motor Skills? 

While your child may engage in activities that help develop their fine motor skills in day care, you can continue to strengthen them at home by practicing several activities. 

  • Pom Poms: To play with this toy, your child must grasp the small handles and twirl them in small movements. The motions your child makes will also help develop hand-to-eye coordination.
  • Buttons and Zippers: Look for toys, particularly dolls, that come with plenty of buttons and zippers. As your child buttons and unbuttons clothing, their fine motor skills will grow stronger. You’ll see improvement when they start to use zippers and buttons with more confidence.
  • Pipe Cleaners: Look for arts and crafts kits that use pipe cleaners to create crafts. These small, wired pieces can teach your child to use their imagination and their hands to manipulate the pieces.
  • Play putty: Developing strong fine motor skills also relies on using fingers. Play putty involves kneading, rolling, and shaping the dough, which will help your child gain control of their fingers and their hands. 

 

 

Your child’s fine motor skills will strengthen as you continue to participate in the activities above together. The team at Carrier Learning Center in Bristol, CT, will help your child develop these skills in their comprehensive child care center. They encourage activities that help children develop emotionally, cognitively, and physically, so they will be prepared for preschool. To learn more about their child care services, visit their website or call (860) 589-3000.

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