When we see a baby gripping a parent's finger or a child attempting to colour within the lines, we're witnessing the development of fine motor skills. These crucial skills, formed in early childhood, lay the foundation for various everyday tasks, from buttoning shirts to handwriting. Let's delve into the intriguing world of fine motor skills, understand their significance in the early years, and explore the intimate connection they share with arts and crafts.
Decoding fine motor skills
Fine motor skills are the abilities required to execute intricate tasks using our small muscles, especially those in our hands and fingers. In early childhood, the development of these skills is so important. Why?
Everyday independence: They empower children to perform everyday tasks, such as eating with a fork or tying shoe laces, fostering a sense of independence.
Academic head start: As children progress through school, they'll rely on fine motor skills for activities like writing, cutting with scissors, and crafting. Mastery of these skills can give them a considerable academic advantage.
Boosting self-esteem: Successfully completing tasks, no matter how trivial they may seem to adults, can significantly boost a child's confidence and self-worth.
Arts, crafts, and motor skills: a match made in childhood
Arts and crafts aren't just about creating pretty pictures or cute crafts — they're instrumental in honing fine motor skills in early childhood. Here's how this happens:
Grasping and holding: Picking up paintbrushes, crayons, or craft materials requires the precise movement of fingers. Each time a child grasps a crayon or glues a sequin, they're refining their fine motor abilities.
Hand-eye coordination: Drawing, painting, and crafting require a child to coordinate what they see with the movements of their hands and fingers, enhancing their hand-eye coordination.
Strengthening muscles: Activities like squeezing glue bottles, cutting with scissors, or moulding clay, all contribute to strengthening the tiny muscles in a child's hands.
Fine motor activities for preschoolers and infants
For parents and caregivers keen to support their child's development, here are a few fine motor activities for preschoolers…
Finger painting: This messy yet fun activity is perfect for infants, allowing them to use their fingers to create art, whilst also developing motor skills.
Bead threading: For preschoolers, threading beads onto strings not only creates lovely jewellery but also enhances their precision and dexterity.
Playdough sculpting: Creating shapes and figures from playdough is both entertaining and beneficial for muscle strength.
Crafting: From glueing paper to cutting shapes, crafting offers an array of activities that are instrumental in honing fine motor skills for infants.
toucanBox Crafts: motor skills made fun
At toucanBox, we appreciate the intricate relationship between arts, crafts, and fine motor development. Here are two crafts from our collection that hone fine motor skills for infants.
Mischievous Mice: By asking little ones to plait and manipulate pipe cleaners, this craft develops children’s ability to shape materials. Through a series of actions that challenge and enhance fine motor skills, it gives children the opportunity to build three adorable mice, before decorating them with googly eyes and jumbo tails.
Alien Invasion: This craft involves sculpting a set of extraterrestrial characters. Whether it’s rolling clay into different shapes, cutting and bending pipe cleaners, or forming features such as antennae, children get ample opportunities to practise and refine their motor abilities.
Crafting a motor-strong future
Fine motor skills in early childhood are foundational for a child's overall development, impacting their academic achievements and day-to-day independence. Arts and crafts, with their intricate processes, emerge as fun and effective tools to nurture these skills.
So, why wait? Dive into the world of crafting with your child. Not only will you be gifting them the joy of creation, but you'll also be shaping their motor abilities, setting them up for success in various life spheres.
Keen to explore more? Visit our shop for a diverse range of craft ideas designed with child development in mind. Or better yet, join our Subscription Craft Club to receive monthly boxes brimming with creative potential, tailored to nurture fine motor skills. Let the hands-on fun begin!
Edited by James Hickman
Primary school teacher and educational writer
James is a Primary school teacher and copywriter with over 5 years of teaching experience. Having taught not only in the UK but also in Italy and in Spain, he enjoys travelling and (having worked in architectural practice in Cambridge) loves crafting too!
