The best fine motor skills toys all have one thing in common: they can be played with in more than one way. Cutting with scissors, squeezing Play-Doh, buttoning a coat, balancing blocks and holding a crayon all use small muscles in the hand, and are all fine motor skills that can be developed with (you guessed it!) toys!
As a teacher, I noticed students in my (middle and high school!) classrooms struggle with fine motor skills. So don’t panick when these skills take a long time to develop. Fine motor skills are one of the 11 play categories in my rotation system 🧸.
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What Parents Need to Know About Fine Motor Skills:
Fine motor toys ask your child to do one of a few things:
- squeeze or pinch something
- thread or lace something
- cut something
- hold a tool with control
- fasten something closed
That’s basically it. It can sound more daunting than it really is. That being said, these skills take years to master, so it can feel at time like your child is ‘behind,’ or ‘not progressing.’
Don’t fret. You almost never see a grown adult unable to tie their shoes.
So, the best thing you can do as a parent is offer toys that practice all of these little movements, and help your child’s tiny hand (and feet!) muscles build strength and communication with their developing brains.
The Best Fine Motor Toys for Any Age
These 8 toys are the ones that have been used the longest and in the most number of ways in my house. Each one trains a different movement, so together they cover a lot of ground without repeating themselves.
1. Melissa & Doug Wooden Lacing Beads
Some days our beads were necklaces, some they were snakes, others they gave you super powers.
- Practice tying knots
- Threading beads
- Create patterns
- Sort by shape
- Sort by color
- And more (Melissa and Doug even give you ideas on the box!)
Melissa & Doug Blue’s Clues & You! Wooden Lacing Beads
What I love about the Melissa & Doug lacing sets is that the blocks can be used in lots of different ways (stacking, sorting, and lacing). And they come with pattern cards to follow the pattern while lacing.
- Includes 25 1-inch wooden beads with shapes, numbers, colors, Blueu2019s Clues & You! characters, and more, 4 lacing cords, 4 double-sided activity cards, wooden storage crate for easy cleanup
- An engaging and creative way to learn shapes, colors, and counting; helps develop fine motor and problem-solving skills
- Wooden Blue's Clues & You! beads to lace on colorful cords; match to patterns on double-sided activity cards or create unique patterns and designs
2. Melissa & Doug Fishing Puzzle
A puzzle and a game all in one! Practice fine motor skills in two ways:
- Use the fishing rod to “fish” for pieces
- Use your hands and senses to match and rotate pieces to fit the puzzle
Melissa & Doug Magnetic Wooden Fishing Game and Puzzle
I love a toy that can be both close-ended (puzzle) and open-ended (fishing toy). The magnets make kids engage with this puzzle longer than traditional puzzles.
- Includes 10 magnetic fish pieces and magnetic pole
- A creative way to encourage hand-eye coordination and fine motor development
3. Play-Doh With Tools
Play-Doh has so many cool tools for practicing fine motor skills. Try ‘cutting hair,’ shaping ravioli, or stamping letters. Squeezing, rolling, and pinching Play-Doh also builds hand strength that children need for scissors and holding a pencil.
We have invested heavily in Play-Doh from an early age, because our kids consistently played with it for hours each week.
Play-Doh Starter Set
This was the exact first set I bought, and it's still in circulation 6 years later! Granted the play-doh itself has long been dried up, mashed together, and stuck to my carpet… But the tools and case remain!
- Reusable storage is bas great for storage and to take Play-Doh on the go
- 9 tools & 4 cans of doh
- Rigorously tested for quality, Play-Doh compound is made primarily with flour, salt, and water, making it a great choice for arts and crafts for kids who love modeling clay (contains wheat)
4. Play Silks
You might find these on every list on this site 😂 There are a few toys (like the play silks) that are just so good for so many of my [11 play categories]. And I love a toy that fits so many categories, because it means less toys on my shelf overall.
- Feeling the silk with your fingers (for infants)
- Knot the silks
- Fold the silks
- Use the silks to carry other toys like bags
Newcotte 5 Set Magic Color Silk Scarf
One minute you're running these silks through your newborn's fingers for sensory play, the next your toddlers are wearing them as capes, tying them into ropes, building forts, and more.
- More Fun Than You Realize: can use it as a game prop, play hide and seek with their friends, throw the handkerchief and more, offering a diverse range of open ended play experiences
- Versatile: we can use this play scarves as carriers, scarves, capes, grass for rocking horses dance props and even to build forts with play clips, and also can be a sling for a doll or stuffed animal, a decorative backdrop for a make faith scene, there is more fun waiting for you to discover
- Durable: our large square scarves are made of durable reusable satin chiffon fabric ideal for playing dress up, doll blankets, dancing and twirling, capes, activities and songs, Halloween costumes, picnics, traveling, movement, juggling, and more
- Promotes Motor Coordination: the flowing scarves are ideal for dance and movement activities helping to improve balance coordination and rhythm they can also for tossing catching waving and storytelling promoting physical development and boosting confidence
These play silks will make their way to your [display shelf] over and over as [open-ended toys], [costumes], [fine motor], [gross motor], and [pretend play].
5. Fisher Price Wood Montessori Busy Board
This exact toy did not exist when we bought out busy board. Instead, we had the Melissa and Doug Busy Board. I prefer the Fisher Price toy now because it has some newer types of fasteners that the Melissa and Doug board doesn’t have (like velcro, slider buckles, and cinching buttons).
- Tie your shoes
- Velco
- Snap
- 3 different buckles
- Zipper
- Cinching buttons
Fisher-Price Wood Montessori Dressing Board Busy Activity
Busy boards are great for learning life skills like zippers, and the sensory satisfaction of snaps and buckles.
- u200bMontessori toy that helps foster fine motor skills, practical dressing skills, self-confidence and independence for preschool kids ages 3 years and older
- u200b9 busy activities! Includes buttons, shoelaces, snaps, buckles, and a zipper for kids to practice
- u200bExclusive tip card! Includes guided play tips from the child development experts at the Fisher-Price Play Lab
- Made with wood from Forest Stewardship Council-certified sources (FSC-N004566) and decorated with non-toxic, water-based paints
- Includes 1 wooden board with 9 dressing activities
- u200bAwarded the AMS Montessori Seal of Excellence by the American Montessori Society in 2025
6. Fiskars Kids Scissors With a Cutting Practice Pad
My oldest went stright to the [older fiskars type] kids scissors. He figured out the grip and motion within a few times of cutting. My youngest needed more help with scissors. He struggled with both the grip and motion of cutting.
We finally saw some cutting progress with these kid’s scissors. You don’t have to loop your fingers in, and the springs open the scissors automatically (which is typically the trickier part).
The pad also has coloring and gluing activities with it, so you can start there with reluctant kiddos. Bonus: Once you work through all of the projects, you can continue using scissors for other crafting and creating.
Fiskars Toddler Activity Book with Safety Scissors
My first picked up a pair of scissors and needed no explanation (at 2 years old!) but my second was over 4 before he even wanted to try it. He couldn't coordinate the grasp. These scissors gave him confidence to cut and paste that eventually led to using real scissors.
- Fiskars Starter Scissors & Activity Book (Ages 2+) includes starter scissors and 30 pages of activities, along with tips and tricks to introduce young kids to using scissors
- Activity pages focus on simple snips and lines, helping kids learn how to close scissors blades, developed with pediatric occupational therapists
- Fiskars Starter Scissors have safe, plastic blades that cut paper with straight, easy-grip handles
- Spring-action design opens blades after each cut, allowing young children to focus on closing motion
Fiskars Practice Scissors and Craft Book
These activity books are just meant for cutting (a major fine motor skill needed for school!).
- Safe practice scissors and educational craft book for children aged 3 and over, For right- and left-handed use, Developed together with paediatric occupational therapists
- Craft book with tips & tricks for learning how to use scissors, simple cuts and lines for practising closing the scissor blades
- Safe, plastic-coated, blunt blades and training lever to gently open the blades after each cut – practical for learning the basic scissor movement
7. Tinker Toys
These [BLOCKS] are one of my favorites for kids who are ready for more advanced building than LEGO DUPLO but not quite ready for the intricate standard LEGOS or K’Nex. The reason? Multiple fasteners.
Unlike Legos that all snap together in the same way, Tinker Toys can be threaded, plugged, snapped, and slid together to build infinite creations.
Bonus: These blocks are BIG. They make BIG creations, and I can guarantee for toddlers, bigger is always better.
Tinkertoy – Retro Building Set Tin
My kids made so many creations with these Tinker Toys. They are big, so they make big builds, and big fun!
- 15 Building Ideas: Unleash your creativity as you assemble 15 different builds! Use the easy-to-follow instructions to assemble your creations, or let your imagination run wild as you build anything you can imagine.
- Includes 85 Pieces: This set comes with 85 pieces, giving your little one everything they need for endless fun and construction opportunities!
- STEAM Building Set: The TINKERTOY Retro Building Set Tin improves your child's learning through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts & math) concepts.
8. Noodle Knockout
I bought this game on a whim, and it has been the biggest hit at my house (although I shouldn’t be surprised as I love everything Learning Resources!). There are so many ways to play this game we have yet to play them all, but one thing is for sure: my kids LOVE to use the tweezers to grab all of their ingredients and plate up tasty noodle dishes.
Learning Resources Noodle Knockout
I bought this on a whim and my kids have loved it for years. There are so many ways to play this game (all explained in the rules) that we haven't even played every type!
- FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT: Kids build hand strength, dexterity, and handeye coordination as they use chopsticks to grab wiggly noodles and toppings; a fun fine motor skills toy for preschoolers
- MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY: Features three game variations that grow with kids ages four and up; supports two to four players and works as an engaging family board game or classroom activity
- SENSORY SATISFACTION: Soft, wiggly noodles and colorful toppings create handson play kids love, keeping young players engaged during fun games that build early skills
- COMPLETE 67 PIECE SET: Includes noodles, toppings, spinner, order cards, bowls, and chopsticks; everything needed for interactive play at home, school, or group playtime
- EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: Builds early counting, color recognition, sorting, and turntaking through creative pretend play, making this a popular learning game for kids and preschool classrooms
Fine Motor Toys by Age
What a hand can do at 8 months and what it can do at 5 years old are not remotely the same job, so here are picks grouped by stage. The eight above are the ones worth a full write up. These are the ones worth a shopping list.
Best Fine Motor Toys for Babies (0 to 12 Months)
In infancy, fine motor focuses mostly on:
- Feeling textures
- Grasping
- Releasing
Sassy Ring O Links
The smallest hands can feel the different textures of each ring, and once your little one gets some dexterity, they can link and unlink the rings for fine motor practice.
- TACTILE STIMULATION: Different materials and surfaces stimulate baby's sense of touch and teach baby to recognize new objects.
- EASY GRASP: Textured handle is easy to grasp and great for mouthing
- VISUAL STIMULATION: Contrasting black, white and brightly colored links stimulate baby's developing vision.
- SAFE FOR ALL CHILDREN: Complies with all government standards for infant products. All Sassy rattles and teethers are tested to the most rigid age grade standards.
- Top Rack Dishwasher Safe
The First Years Stacking Cups
Playtime, bathtime, you name it, my babies loved these! Stack them, build them, and knock them over!
- This set of stacking toys features 8 brightly colored cups that stack together with unique holes in the bottom for pouring and water play at bath time
- Montessori Stacking Toys
- Made without BPA for toddlers and kids ages 9 months and up
Fisher-Price Wood Rock-a-Stack
A classic for a reason, babies love handling the colorful rings, and older infants are thrilled to stack and solve the puzzle.
- u200bClassic activity toy with 7 colorful wooden ring stackers and a roly-poly stacking base u200b
- u200bToddlers can sort and stack the rings from biggest to smallest, or use the rings for endless imaginative stories u200b
- u200bMade with wood from Forest Stewardship Council-certified sources (FSC-N004566) and decorated with non-toxic, water-based paints u200b
- u200bThis toy helps foster fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and thinking skills for toddlers and preschool kids ages 18 months and older u200b
Sophie la Girafe
She's a classic in my house. In fact, I almost always gift her as a baby shower gift. Babies love how soft she is, her chewy texture, and squeaker.
- Sophie la girafe Comes in a gift box with a storage pouch
- Sophie la girafe is the first baby toy that awakens all her senses; sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell
- Practical and hygienic, its storage pouch allows you to easily store and transport Sophie la Girafe while protecting it from dirt
- Sophie la girafe can now accompany your baby on the go
- Suitable from birth and surface washable
Melissa & Doug K's Kids Match and Build Soft Blocks Set
These blocks are just as fun to squish and chew as they are to stack and build. As kids get older they can solve the puzzles to extend the life of the toy
- Soft block set for babies and toddlers
- Matching activities pair numerals and quantities, animal halves, and everyday shapes
- Soft, lightweight pieces (10 cubes and 4 triangles) are easy for young children to lift and manipulate
- Develops sensory, fine motor, and communication skills
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids My First Activity Book
A cute book to take and toss in your bag. Has lots of sensory input like a busy board, just for babies!
- Play, Learn & Explore: Turn soft pages, lift peekaboo flaps, button & buckle, move clock hands, & role-play with puppets during tummy time, stroller rides and travel, for screen-free learning activities
- Whatu2019s Inside: 8-page cloth book with removable hand puppet, 2 finger puppets, crinkling surprise panel, movable-hand clock, button and buckle activities, built-in handles, and a clear tote for easy storage
Best Fine Motor Toys for 1 and 2 Year Olds
Pincer grip and cause-and-effect take over here. This is prime shape sorter and pound-a-peg territory.
Melissa & Doug Shape-Sorting Dump Truck
I love a multipurpose toy! This shape sorter is great for fine motor skills and closed-ended play, but also doubles as a dump truck that kids love for open-ended pretend play!
- Dual-Function Wooden Toy This sturdy wooden toy truck doubles as a shape sorter, featuring nine shaped holes that correspond to the colorful wooden blocks, offering a fun challenge for toddler toys
- Dump and Play Action The truck bed tilts to dump the blocks and the back door lifts, providing a satisfying and repeatable action that encourages fine motor skills and hours of engaging pretend play
Hape Pound & Tap Bench
A 2-in-1 toy that kids can tap balls directly onto the xylophone for new sounds, or pull out the xylophone and play some tunes of their own.
- Pound the balls and they will drop on the xylophone, tinkling out a pleasant scale of notes
- Pull out the xylophone and play a tune directly on the keys
- Hape finishes are all non-toxic, child safe, and of the highest quality
Melissa & Doug Wooden Jumbo Peg Puzzle 2-Pack
These may seem super easy, but even my 2-year old struggled with orientation of the puzzle pieces. They can work on them for a long time before mastering the activity.
- Piece together early learning fun with a set of two Melissa & Doug 3-piece wooden jumbo peg puzzles
- House Pets features an adorable puppy, kitten, and bird in a house-shaped puzzle board
- Fish Bowl features a fish, turtle, and crab in a fishbowl-shaped puzzle board
- Pieces have easy-grip knobs, perfect for little hands just developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, and matching pictures underneath for easy solving
Melissa & Doug Blockables Farm & Farm Friends 2-Pack Bundle Set
We've gifted tons of Melissa & Doug Blockables and our friends have nothing but glowing reviews! Create the scenes on the box, or use your own imagination!
- This 2-pack Blockables bundle includes the 57-piece Farm Play Set and the 16-piece Farm Friends Play Set, each with solid wood blocks, connectors, felt pieces, play figures, and illustrated instructions; build animals, equipment, unique creations
- Blockables are designed to promote and support important developmental benefits: They encourage fine motor, problem-solving, and matching skills, introduce storytelling, and help build self-esteem as kids build and create their own toys again and again
Melissa & Doug Latches Wooden Activity Board
My kids loved to play with this, and I think it's a commonality that all kids love locks, latches, and other mechanical parts.
- Discover Hidden Surprises This wooden busy board features six unique metal latches that hook, snap, click, and slide, revealing colorful animal illustrations behind each numbered door for engaging play
- Builds Essential Skills A core piece among montessori toys, this board helps develop dexterity, problem-solving skills, and hand-eye coordination as children figure out how each of the latches works
- Hands-On Sensory Learning The different textures of the smooth wood and cool metal latches make this an effective sensory activity board, providing tactile feedback that keeps preschoolers engaged in learning
Learning Resources Spike The Original Fine Motor Hedgehog
My kids loved this more than I would have expected for how simple it is!
- FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT: Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog helps toddlers strengthen hand muscles, improve coordination, and build the pincer grasp needed for future writing skills
- COLOR SORTING & MATCHING FUN: Practice color recognition, sorting, and matching with colorful quills that make this one of the most engaging color sorting toys for toddlers
- BUILD EARLY LEARNING SKILLS: Numbered holes encourage counting, sequencing, and problem-solving while supporting fine motor skills toys for toddlers through hands-on play
- PORTABLE STORAGE DESIGN: All 12 chunky quills store neatly inside Spike, making this toddler toy perfect for travel, restaurants, daycare, and learning on the go
Melissa & Doug First Bead Maze
Little ones love to slide the bobbles from one side of the track to another.
- Classic Bead Maze Play: Babies explore four looping wires with 18 beads and 3 rings that slide & spin, encouraging pushing, pulling, & grasping motions while on the floor, at a table, or in a high chair
- Montessori-Inspired Learning Toy: Sliding & spinning actions strengthen fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving while introducing shapes, colors, and cause-and-effect learning through play
Battat Save and Count Learning Toy
This was a surprise toy. I didn't think my kids would love it as much as they did. But boy did they! It's great to practice fine motor skills, as well as counting, color recognition, and more.
- Piggy Bank: Have a ton of educational fun with this piggy bank and play coin set
- 10 Coins: This learning toy comes with 10 numbered coins in bright colorsu2014great for practicing counting and color recognition
- Playbook Included: Discover educational play ideas and an illustrated story inside the playbook
Melissa & Doug Latches Barn Toy
This barn doubles as a locks and latches puzzle for curious little ones. It is self contained and not too big so it's easy to store.
- HELPS DEVELOP MULTIPLE SKILLS: The Melissa & Doug Latches Barn Toy helps teach children 3 years and up vital fine motor skills, counting skills, colors, and animal recognition.
- HELPS DEVELOP MULTIPLE SKILLS: The Melissa & Doug Latches Barn Toy helps teach children 3 years and up vital fine motor skills, counting skills, colors, and animal recognition.
Best Fine Motor Toys for 3 and 4 Year Olds
This is where lacing, cutting, and early writing tools become easier to play with and more fun!
Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace
These are fun to learn to lace and sew. My kids likes to sew part of the animal and use the rest of the cord as a "leash" and walk them around.
- HELPS DEVELOP MULTIPLE SKILLS: Kids will learn the ins and outs of matching and sorting while honing attention skills and developing hand-eye coordination with this great activity.
- WOODEN STORAGE BOX: For easy cleanup and convenient storage, this Lace & Trace Farm set can be stored in the included wooden storage box.
Chuckle & Roar Magnetic Dot Art Designer
CRAYOLA Crayon Extra Jumbo So Big, 12 Pack
My 4 year old didn't necessarily need the big crayons for grip, but we did need them for STRENGTH. These jumbo crayons are much stronger than regular crayons and withstand the throwing across the floor that one might encounter with a toddler.
- 12 Extra Jumbo So Big Crayons
- They are extra sturdy, so they won't break easily
- Ideal and functional for kindergarten and primary school use
- 25% thicker than classic crayons
- True Colors, Non-Toxic
The Pencil Grip Magic Tri Stix, Non-Toxic and Washable Markers
I don't know why these markers aren't *the only markers* for kids. They have a triangle shape which makes them easy to grip, and they don't dry out for 7 DAYS!!!!! So when you inevitably find 6 of them with missing lids, you have time for a teaching moment instead of heading right for the trash.
- Magic Stix Markers: These vibrant markers are designed to last up to 7 days without drying out with the cap off guaranteed!
- The Pencil Grip triangular markers 24 set features vibrant application and long-lasting performance
- The unique triangular shape of our markers gives a stable grip that will assist your kids in developing fine motor skills
- Washable Markers: Our tri-grip markers can be easily washed off, so you don't have to stress about a mess!
- Non-Toxic Markers
- Our tri-grip pack comes with a carrying case for easy storage and sanitizing
Skillmatics Snip Snip, Scissor Skills
These are so fun and there are lots of different themes. Cut and paste to make scenes, toys, diagrams, and more.
- Work fine motor skills in a mess-free way
- Full color pages to cut and paste
Melissa & Doug Rainbow Cord Picture and Pattern Maker
This toy covers a lot of ground. It's sensory with the velcro-like board and cables, it's a pattern to trace, and everything fits nicely inside the box as a carrying case. We love this in the car!
- Draw pictures and patterns with a rainbow of colored cords again and again — mess-free, portable, and reusable art activity
- Includes 21 12-inch cords in 7 colors, 18 6-inch cords in 6 colors, 6 double-sided cards to trace, drawing tool, take-along storage case
- Cords stick to a hook-and-loop surface and are then easily removed to draw again and again
- Thread cords into drawing tool to trace pictures or create your own
Educational Insights Design & Drill Bolt Buddies Rocket
We have a lot of these kits! The kids love putting them together with the working drill, and then playing with the toys once they are complete.
- TAKE APART ROCKET TOY: Kids can enjoy hours of independent building and drilling fun as they use the power drill toy to put together their very own rocket ship, complete with space-themed playset
- CREATIVE CONSTRUCTION MEETS PRESCHOOL PRETEND PLAY: Transition seamlessly from hands-on STEM action to pretend play, with packaging that unfolds into a combination launch pad/moon landing playset
- SKILL-BUILDING TOOL KIT: Little builders develop early engineering and fine motor skills while practicing problem-solving and real world application as they use the drill to tighten and loosen bolts
Melissa & Doug PAW Patrol Wooden 4-in-1 Magnetic Wand Maze Board
There is something very satisfying about feeling the little magnetic balls click with the pen!
- Sturdy wooden maze board with attached magnetic wand for moving pieces through 4 self-contained PAW Patrol-themed mazes
- Mazes include Construction Counting, Adventure Bay Racetrack, Firehouse Fun, and Recycling Pick-Up
Melissa & Doug Poke-a-Dot! Who’s in the Ocean?
We have many Poke-a-Dot books. They get kids engaged and interested in books. They are also surprisingly more educational than you would think (it's not just a gimmick to pop all the buttons in each page).
- Engaging Sensory Play: 20-page children's book features built-in buttons that make satisfying u201cpopu201d sounds with every press, turning reading into a sensory-rich, hands-on, interactive adventure for toddlers and preschoolers
Best Fine Motor Toys for 5 and 6 Year Olds
Real precision work now, small beads, real sewing, actual craft tools instead of toy versions.
Crayola Ultra Clean Washable Markers (40ct)
We are a Crayola family. You can rely on the markers and paints to wash out every time.
- CRAYOLA BROAD LINE MARKERS: Features 40 Crayola Ultra Clean Washable Markers in assorted colors that offer practicality, versatility, and creativity all in one package.
- WASHABLE MARKERS: Each less-mess colored marker washes easily from skin, washable clothing, and most painted walls.
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696
We chose this kit specifically for all of the wheels it came with! Who doesn't like building moving things?!
- Endless Builds – This creative toy for boys and girls includes windows, toy eyes, 18 tires and toy wheel rims that can be placed on a green baseplate for kids to role-play; plus the container can be used as toy storage
- Imaginative Play – Kids can use their imagination, picking an assortment of bricks to bring to life any building toy they want with these colorful toys, fostering kids' playtime and building creativity throughout the process
Melissa & Doug On The Go Friendship Bracelet
The book doubles as a workstation which is pretty cool. The knots and process may be too advanced for a 6 year old.
- Craft kit comes with everything to create 10+ friendship bracelets
- Includes 157.5 feet of colorful string, 9.8 feet of metallic string, 6 felt charms, double-sided foam mini loom, 8 beads, and instructions
- Features detailed full-color illustrations and handy tips and suggestions
- Easy to learn, easy to store, and easy to create impressive results
- Easy to learn, easy to store, and easy to create impressive results
- On the Go format makes it perfect for families on the move!
Crayola Colored Pencils (36ct)
Unlike other brands, Crayola colored pencils won't come with tons of broken lead.
- 36 CRAYOLA COLORED PENCILS: Explore a spectrum of color with 36 distinct colored pencils that transform artwork into vibrant masterpieces.
- IDEAL FOR COLORING BOOKS: Designed to glide smoothly across the page, these pencils bring coloring books to life.
- PRESHARPENED & DURABLE: Soft cores won't break easily, and presharpened tips are ready for use right out of the box.
Price may have changed — click through for the current price.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Multi-Craft Weaving Loom
A little space-consuming but can be used to make multiple different projects or just to practice the weaving motion.
Crayola Mini Twistables Crayons for Kids (50ct)
I love coloring with crayons, but even the best crayons tend to break in bookbags and supply bins. These crayons solve the breaking problem!
- CRAYOLA TWISTABLES CRAYON SET: This kids' coloring set includes 50 Crayola Mini Twistable Crayons, perfect for little hands.
- LESS MESS COLORING: Unlike traditional crayons, Crayola Twistable Crayons require no peeling or sharpening, making them a great less-mess option for coloring.
- DURABLE AND LONG-LASTING: Made with high-quality materials, these crayons for toddlers and kids are built to last.
Educational Insights Jumbo Gem Kit
This is like diamond painting for little kids! The gems are big and easy to maneuver and stick with the included tool.
- MESS FREE ART: No need for glue, tape, or scissors; this preschool craft kit includes all tools and materials, so kids can enjoy crafting independently and safely without creating a mess
- TODDLER CRAFT KIT INCLUDES: Gem popper tool, 500 jumbo craft gems, and 16 fantasy design cards that can be pieced together and displayed to showcase a magical, sparkly scene; for children ages 5+
K'NEX – Click & Construct Value Building Set
K'Nex are a fun take on blocks. My 6 year old has no problem creating with them; however, the closures can be tricky so it may be too advanced for some.
- Create pre-made designs following instructions (close-ended)
- Create your own designs (open-ended)
Educational Insights Pom Pom Kit: Animal Dress Up
Use the tool to grab a pom pom, then place it on the pre-glued dots for a mess-free sensory craft.
- TODDLER CRAFT KIT INCLUDES: Pom pom popper tool, 16 animal dress-up design cards with loops at the top for easy hanging, and 1000 colorful pom poms; for girls and boys ages 5 and up
A Few More We Love
Rotation staples that did not make the main eight but earn their shelf space regularly.
Learning Resources Jumbo Tweezers
These are great for DIY sensory bins, science experiments and crafts.
- FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT: Strengthen hand muscles, pencil grip, coordination, and fine motor skills with easy grip preschool tweezers designed specifically for growing hands
- 12 JUMBO TWEEZERS INCLUDED: Comes with 12 colorful jumbo tweezers in 6 vibrant colors, perfect for group activities, preschoolers, and fine motor skill development
- BUILT FOR LITTLE HANDS: Ergonomic design naturally supports proper grasp and hand positioning, making these fine motor tweezers for kids great for ages 5+ learning and play activities
Learning Resources Flex-Grip Tongs
Practice fine motor skills with pom pom, sorting, and DIY sensory bins.
- FINE MOTOR TOOLS: Grab and squeeze with these colorful tongs for kids, building hand strength, coordination, precision, and other fine motor skills, hands on fine motor tools for young learners here
- TONGS FOR KIDS: Long handles and soft silicone ends are designed for comfort and control, sized for toddler play and early fine motor development, hands on tongs for kids and sensory bin tools too
- READY FOR SCHOOL: Strengthen pencil grip, improve dexterity, and encourage sorting and grasping, a great addition to fine motor tools for preschool, sensory bins, and classroom play for young kids
Hasbro® Don’t Break The Ice Game
A fun game for even the youngest players.
- FUN KIDS GAME: This Donu2019t Break the Ice game is an exciting preschool game that has players tapping out ice blocks one by one, as they imagine helping Phillip the Penguin make a new igloo
- FAMILY GAMES FOR KIDS: Get everyone together for family game night with the Don't Break the Ice game. Players will be on the edge of their seats just waiting for the moment that the penguin falls through
Mattel Games Kerplunk Disney
Like the classic without the worry of marbles in the house.
- The KerPlunk game kids love featuring the Hi-Tech Edition Buzz Lightyears and crane inspired by Disney and Pixaru2019s Toy Story 5!
- Roll the die and remove a stick of the matching color. If any Buzz Lightyears fall, you must keep them.
- When all the Buzz Lightyears have tumbled down, the player with the fewest wins!
- Clouds on the sticks let colorblind players easily identify which stick to pull.
- Fun for the whole family, kids and adults alike, easy to learn and perfect for family game night or party play!
LEGO DUPLO Classic Cars and Trucks Brick Box 10439
Even though we've graduated to regular LEGO at my house, my kids still love playing with Duplo!
- Educational STEM toy for vehicle-loving preschoolers aged 18 months and up u2013 The Cars and Trucks Brick Box playset comes with an assortment of bricks and pieces to set toddlersu2019 creative cogs in motion
- Car toy playset with lots in the box u2013 Firing toddlersu2019 imaginations to create fun 4-wheeled adventures, this creative toy includes 3 wheelbases, 1-2-3 bricks, 2 child figures and a bee figure
Melissa & Doug Blockables Rescue City Wooden Building Toy Set
I really wish these were around when my kids were smaller, I think they would have loved them! They are super interactive (moreso than traditional building blocks) and let you make the scenes on the box or create your own. Everyone we've gifted them to loves them!
- Blockables City Deluxe Play Set includes sturdy storage bin with reversible play lid, 51 wooden blocks, 58 connectors, felt traffic arm and felt car wash flaps with built-in connectors, 4 play figures, 12 wheels, recycle truck arm, fire engine ladder, and illustrated instructions for 9 builds
- Like all Melissa & Doug toys, Blockables are designed to promote and support important developmental benefits for kids: Fine motor, problem-solving, matching skills, storytelling, and self-esteem as kids build and create their own toys again and again
Melissa & Doug PAW Patrol Wooden ABC Block Truck (33 Pieces)
We love a multi-purpose toy! Kids can stack blocks, solve puzzles (close-ended), or just drive the truck around and "pick up deliveries."
- Art on blocks includes letters, numerals, PAW Patrol characters, and puzzle art with color-coded borders; 3 wooden play figures for extra pretend play options
- Wooden dowels on the trailer hold blocks with smooth hole drilled through top to bottom in place
Melissa & Doug Created by Me! Butterfly Fleece Quilt No-Sew Craft Kit
A fun mess-free project with everything you need to make your own blanket.
- Knot-together no-sew fleece quilt craft kit with butterfly pattern and coordinating colors
- Includes 48 12-inch by 12-inch fleece squares with slotted fringe for easy tying
- Top quality, thick, fuzzy, and super-soft material
- Detailed illustrated instructions and lots of design ideas to spark creativity
Melissa & Doug PAW Patrol Rescue Mission Wooden Dashboard
We have gotten so much use out of this toy! And it practices a lot of important fine motor skills as well as imagination, problem-solving and pretend play.
- Interactive PAW Patrol Driving Dashboard: Realistic wooden steering wheel toy with lights, vehicle sounds, working controls, and a scrolling GPS screen for pretend play fun for kids ages 3 and up
- Lights, Sounds & Phrases: Buttons for character phrases in 3 language choices, on/off switch, record/playback voice messages, key start with engine rev sounds, gear shift, turn signals, horn, and siren
- Adventure Missions Included: Comes with 3 double-sided u201cwindshieldu201d mission cards that slide into clips on the dashboard and store neatly in the back, encouraging imaginative role play and storytelling
- Learn Through Play: Inspired by PAW Patrolu2019s teamwork and adventure, this preschool learning toy helps develop social, emotional, and motor skills; ideal birthday gift or screen-free playset for kids
How To Keep Your Kids Interested in Fine Motor Toys
The most common complaint I hear is that a fine motor toy got played with twice and then ignored. Almost always it is one of two things:
- It only trains one movement, and that movement got boring. Your kid masters that one movement and then has nothing left to work toward. Mix the actual skill being trained the same way you would mix open ended and close ended toys. Either with another movement (like fishing for the puzzle piece and placing the puzzle piece) or with a second built-in activity (like creating a car out of LEGO and then playing with it).
- It was too hard or too easy from the start. Unfortunately fine motor skills seem to be too hard one minute and too easy the next. That’s why a lot of these toys have multiple purposes and can be played with as a game, puzzle, art, or pretend play after the skill is mastered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shape sorters, chunky knob puzzles, stacking toys, and pound-a-peg benches cover the core movements a 1 to 2 year old is working on: grasp, release, and basic cause and effect. Save lacing and scissors for closer to age 3, when the grip is more controlled.
Watch how they hold a crayon, a spoon, or small toys. A fisted whole-hand grab where you would expect a more controlled pinch is the usual sign. It is normal at younger ages and just means more of this kind of play, not a reason to worry.
They overlap but are not the same. Sensory toys are about texture and input, think kinetic sand or water play. Fine motor toys are about controlled hand movement like cutting with scissors or tying a knot. Play-Doh happens to be both at once, which is why I love it so much!
If you’re doing a [toy rotation], fine motor toys should be involved in every rotation if you can. They are the skill that preschool and kindergarten teachers say kids lack the most, and need the most to succeed in the first few yeras at school.
Gah! My oldest *couldn’t wait* for the day I gave him a pair of scissors. But then my youngest came and flat out refused any kind of crafty skill because he claimed it was too hard. I had no idea what to do because my oldest jumped in with no hesitation. We went back to our trusted Play-Doh but I worked with him to use the scissors to “cut hair,” and the rolling pin to “make pasta.” He didn’t realize we were practicing fine motor skills, but we were!
Once he started getting confident there, we started doing things that were naughty. Like bathtub crayons (although you’ll notice these aren’t on my list because they legitimately stained my tub for 2 years), wripping paper, crinkling aluminum foil… Anything to create. Eventually he came around to the Fiskars Cut & Learn Scissors and now will play with pretty much any fine motor toy.
No. Tracing a letter on a screen, has some purpose (I’m definitely not anti-screens at my house), but fine motor skills are the coordination of hands and feet to control and use tools (or be used themselves as tools).
Ready to Take Your Toy Rotation to the Next Level?
A simple two-page system for cutting the mess and making playtime more fun & last longer!
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