Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP
Looking for toys that promote fine motor skills? Our occupational therapists (OTs) have created this guide to recommended toys by age, for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Fine motor skills enable kids to participate in everyday tasks such as grasping objects, feeding themselves, getting dressed, writing and coloring, and more. The best toys for fine motor skills encourage children to build these skills through play.
Key takeaways
Fine motor skills develop gradually from infancy through childhood and support everyday activities like eating, dressing, and handwriting.
The best toys for fine motor skills encourage grasping, pinching, pulling, stacking, building, and manipulating objects.
Different toys for each age and stage can help your child continue to build their skills in fun ways.
If your child struggles with fine motor tasks, an occupational therapist can help identify areas of need and provide support.
Find the right occupational therapist for your child
We'll match you with a licensed OT who's experienced in your child's needs and available when you are.
Get startedWhat are fine motor skills?
Fine motor skills are the small, precise movements we make using our hands, fingers, and wrists (and sometimes toes). These movements help us do everyday tasks like picking up objects, writing, or buttoning clothes.
Fine motor skills rely on coordination between the brain, muscles, and nerves. They’re built on gross motor skills, which are the bigger movements we use to crawl, run, and jump.
Fine motor skills begin developing in infancy, and children continue to build these skills as they grow.
Fine motor skills are the small hand and finger movements we use for everyday tasks. Learn examples, activities, and how to support your child’s development at home.
Best toys for fine motor skills for infants
“During the first year of life, babies are developing the foundation of their fine motor skills. That’s why play that promotes fine motor skills is so important,” explains Jill Turner, OTD, OTR/L, an occupational therapist with Expressable. Babies are learning how to do things like open and close their hands, grab and hold on to toys, move toys from one hand to the other, and feed themselves with a pincer grasp (holding an object with the index finger and thumb).
Here are some OT-recommended toys to promote fine motor skills in infants:
O-Ball
An O-Ball is a great first toy for helping babies develop grasping skills. The open design makes it easier for a baby’s small hands to hold the ball. Babies can practice gripping the O-ball and moving it from one hand to the other.
As babies grow, they can learn to roll, pass, and manipulate the ball. These activities support hand-eye coordination and bilateral coordination, which means using both hands together.
Textured sensory balls
Textured sensory balls help babies strengthen their grasp. The different textures of bumps and ridges support a baby’s sensory development, as well. Your baby can practice reaching to grab the sensory balls and squeezing them.
Learn how and when to start playing with your baby, and what kinds of interactive play can help your baby's growth and development.
Soft stacking cups
Soft stacking cups are versatile toys that grow with your child as their skills and interests change. Younger babies can practice simple tasks such as holding and exploring the cups. Older infants can begin learning how to stack the cups or knock them down. They can also work on placing objects inside the cup, which is great for grasp development.
Ring stackers
Another toy that promotes fine motor skills in infants is a ring stacker. Ring stackers encourage babies to practice grasping, releasing, and placing objects with purpose. As babies work to put rings onto the post, they develop visual-motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and early problem-solving abilities.
Best toys for fine motor skills for toddlers
Toddlers ages 1 to 3 are rapidly developing hand strength, coordination, and control. During this stage, children begin using their fingers more intentionally. They begin learning skills like stacking blocks, turning pages, and using utensils. You’ll see a lot of growth in fine motor skills as your child moves through the toddler years!
Mega Bloks
Turner recommends Mega Bloks: “They’re excellent toys that promote fine motor skills because they allow toddlers to practice connecting and separating pieces.” Pressing blocks together helps build hand strength, while pulling them apart works on coordination and control.
Chunky peg boards
Chunky peg boards help toddlers practice grasping objects with their fingers and placing them into specific spaces. These activities support hand-eye coordination, visual attention, and precision.
Peg boards also encourage toddlers to use a controlled release, which is the ability to let go of or place an object smoothly and accurately. Learning a controlled release is important for kids as they learn to do daily tasks such as using a fork or spoon or buttoning clothes.
Shape sorters
A classic toy that’s always a favorite is a shape sorter. Shape sorters are great for fine motor skills because they combine hand movements with problem-solving. Toddlers can practice rotating objects, adjusting their grasp, and figuring out how shapes fit into openings.
These types of activities are recommended because they strengthen your child’s coordination and cognitive skills at the same time.
Large pop beads
Large pop beads help develop finger strength and coordination. Toddlers practice pushing pieces together and pulling them apart. This builds the hand muscles needed for future tasks like using scissors and writing with a pencil.
Chunky wooden puzzles
Chunky wooden puzzles help toddlers develop a variety of fine motor skills, such as:
Grasping
Rotating pieces to fit in the puzzle
Placing objects accurately
These puzzles also support visual-motor integration, which helps children coordinate what they see with how they move their hands, like how to move puzzle pieces to the correct spot.
Best toys for fine motor skills for preschoolers
Preschoolers ages 3 to 5 keep advancing their fine motor skills to prepare for tasks like drawing, cutting, dressing, and early writing. At this age, children benefit from toys that encourage more precise finger movements to help strengthen their muscles in their hands.
Play-Doh with tools
Turner is a big fan of Play-Doh. “Play-Doh is one of the best toys for fine motor skills because it strengthens the hands through fun exercises. Kids can practice squeezing, rolling, pinching, flattening, and shaping the Play-Doh as they play. It’s versatile and keeps kids excited for long amounts of time!”
Using tools with Play-Doh like scissors, rollers, tongs, and cookie cutters provides even more opportunities to practice hand strength and coordination. Mix it up to keep your child interested!
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite encourages children to use a controlled pincer grasp as they place the pieces into the board. A pincer grasp involves using the thumb and index finger together. (Remember to keep an eye on your child when they’re using small pieces, just to be safe!)
This type of precision supports skills needed for the small hand movements used in handwriting and coloring.
Stringing beads
Stringing beads helps preschoolers develop bilateral coordination by requiring both hands to work together. One hand keeps the string still while the other hand guides the bead. This activity also strengthens visual-motor skills and finger dexterity.
Tweezers with pom-poms or small objects
Using tweezers helps children build the small hand muscles needed for pencil control and other precise tasks. Children can use tweezers to pick up and sort pom-poms, beads, or small objects by color, size, or category.
Magna-Tiles
Magna-Tiles encourage children to build while practicing grasping, connecting, and manipulating the pieces. Building structures with toys like these helps support hand strength, as well.
Lacing cards
Lacing cards help preschoolers practice hand-eye coordination and controlled movements as they pull the lace through the holes. These skills also support future classroom tasks like writing.
How do you know if your child is behind on fine motor skills?
Children develop fine motor skills at different rates, but there are some signs that your child may need support.
First, it helps to know the developmental milestones to expect at your child’s age:
Some general signs that a child may have a fine motor delay include:
Avoiding activities that involve using their hands, such as coloring, puzzles, or blocks
Difficulty holding crayons or utensils
Struggling to manipulate small objects more than other children their age
Frustration with activities that involve their hands
Trouble using both hands together during play or daily activities
Needing a lot of help with getting dressed, feeding themselves, or other age-appropriate activities
If you think your child might be having trouble with their fine motor skills, it never hurts to talk with an occupational therapist (OT). They can evaluate your child’s skills and provide strategies to help them reach the milestones that will keep them on track, especially as they get closer to starting school.
Occupational therapy for kids helps build the skills they need to play, learn, and grow. Learn how OTs support kids’ independence and confidence.
Schedule an OT evaluation
If you’re noticing that your child is missing some of these milestones, talk with your pediatrician or an occupational therapist. It’s best to take action sooner rather than later, so your child can start getting the help they need in their early days of brain development.
Here at Expressable, we provide personalized, virtual occupational therapy designed to fit your child’s needs. Reach out to us to schedule an OT evaluation so your child can start making progress today!
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The best toys to promote fine motor skills encourage children to use their hands and fingers, which builds the small muscles in their hands. Different toys are better for different ages, but some examples include building blocks, puzzles, stacking toys, Play-Doh, beads, peg boards, and lacing cards.
Some of the best fine motor skills toys for 2-year-olds include Mega Bloks, chunky peg boards, shape sorters, large pop beads, and chunky wooden puzzles. These toys enable toddlers to hold different shapes, coordinate moving the toys, and build fine motor strength. As a bonus, toys like this help your toddler grow their problem-solving skills!
To promote fine motor skills in 5-year-olds, occupational therapists recommend Play-Doh with tools, Lite-Brite, stringing beads, and Magna-Tiles. These types of toys help children practice using their hands with precision and coordination, which builds skills needed in school, such as handwriting and using scissors.
Fine motor skills toys for 7-year-olds focus on building hand dexterity. The best toys will keep your 7-year-old engaged by encouraging creativity and problem-solving. LEGO sets with themes your child likes (such as race cars or a movie character) are one great idea. Perler bead activities, K’NEX, origami kits, Rubik’s Cubes, and beginner sewing or weaving kits are also recommended by occupational therapists for building fine motor skills in older kids.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
