How does it start?
Developing these skills starts very simple: babies that reflexive grasp everything they can find are starting to practice for the first time their fine motor skills. This reflexive grasping develops into controlled reaching out to objects, switching those from hand to hand and letting them loose/pick them up again. From there on, they increasingly learn more and more to use their fine motor skills.
Why are fine motor skills so important?
These fine motor skills are important for your little one to develop in order to engage in school later in life. For example, when creating fine arts or in learning how to do maths, reading and writing. Writing in its turn helps language development and to process visual information. Being able to use your hands and fingers in a controlled manner helps with math: when learning to count, add and detract, it’s easier in the beginning to use your fingers to count. In brief, fine motor skills play a role in language, cognitive, and academical development.
Best activities to develop fine motor skills
Some great ways to help your toddler develop these important skills, is to let them play with crayons and finger paint. Colouring and painting will help them learn how to control their hand, finger, and thumb movements. Another fun thing to do is to play with moulding clay. Popping bubble wrap also helps practice the small muscles in hands. Building and construction toys are also a good way to help them practice. E.g., trying to stack blocks onto each other without tossing over the entire tower or to precisely put two blocks together teaches you how to control your movements. Jigsaw puzzles and puzzle boxes are also a fun way to practice. An example of motor skill enhancing toys for babies and toddlers are SmartMax Builder Set or the My First Acrobats puzzle game.