Since young babies are likely to put toys in their mouths, it’s important to find toys that have smooth edges and no small parts that could pose a choking hazard. Other important features to look for include durability and ease of cleaning. You can also find toys that will help them learn colors, numbers, shapes, and other concepts as they grow. We researched popular toys from trusted brands with these features in mind. These are the best toys for fine motor skill development on the market today. In addition to fine motor skills, this toy also helps kids learn how to sort and match colors. Parents love that the egg carton makes post-playing cleanup and storage a breeze. Price at time of publication: $16 Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $28 Price at time of publication: $16 Price at time of publication: $19 Price at time of publication: $19 Price at time of publication: $40 Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $55 Price at time of publication: $15 If you’re struggling with where to start for age-appropriate toys, check the manufacturer’s age recommendation. You’ll want toys that aren’t too challenging, but also help children meet their milestones, which gives you an idea of how your child is developing. Once you determine the milestones children need to meet, you can start there to determine what will help and interest your child best for their age.
Safety
Safety is of the utmost importance when it comes to buying any type of toy. Young children love putting toys in their mouths, so you want to make sure that all toys are the correct size. While there are plenty of smaller toys on the market to help develop fine motor skills, this doesn’t mean they’re safe for your child. Consider your child’s age and if the toy contains any small pieces. To help prevent choking from happening, you’ll want to “think large” when it comes to toys. Any toy that is smaller than your child’s mouth should be bypassed as they’re then a choking hazard. Also, avoid any toys that require button batteries or magnets.
Features
You may not think of looking at all of a toy’s features when out shopping, but what many parents and caregivers don’t realize is how important features are for toys and fine motor skills. Fine motor skills include the movement of small muscles in their hands and include activities like pouring liquid into a cup or getting dressed. Many parents and caregivers turn to toys to help develop those skills even more. If you’re looking for toys to do just that, check out toys with features like pulling, placing, buttons, or tags. This encourages children to use their hands to accomplish a task and helps develop fine motor skills.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegler is a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce content for a variety of platforms. She’s a mom to 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters and an aunt to 3 nieces and 2 nephews ranging from 5 to 10 years old. Her one-year- old has several of these developmental toys at home including Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog, the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank, and the Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube. Fine motor skills are developed when we use our hands, wrists, and fingers through small muscle movements. It sounds simple, but on the flip side, our brain and muscles essentially talk and are built on gross motor skills, which allow us to make physical movements. These skills are needed for us to complete daily tasks, like brushing our teeth or holding a pencil. After the first three months of a baby’s life, fine motor skills begin to involve toys. Whether they briefly hold the toy or reach for it, fine motor skills are encouraged. From there, children become more mobile, and you’ll notice their fine motor skills really take off.
More Toys for Kids
When it comes to toys for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top toy picks for every developmental stage and personality phase here:
The Best Christmas Gifts for Kids The Best Developmental Toys for Babies The Best Tummy Time Toys The Best Active Toys for Toddlers The Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers The Best Toys for Toddlers The Best Educational Toys for Toddlers The Best Phonics Toys for Preschoolers The Best Toys for Learning Letters and Numbers The Best Construction and Building Block Toys The Best Musical Toys for Children of All Ages The Best Montessori Toys to Encourage Thoughtful Play The Best Sesame Street Toys The Best Outdoor Toys for Kids of All Ages The Best Dinosaur Toys The Best Toys for Independent Play The Best Indoor Toys and Games for Active Play The Best Snow Toys for Kids The Best STEM Toys for Kids Best Laptop Toys for Kids The Best Social Emotional Learning Toys The Best Robot Toys The Best Ride-On Toys The Best Cleaning Toy Sets The Black-Owned Gift Guide
