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Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning....They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play.
--Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
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Fine Motor Skills
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Fine motor skills involve small muscles. Most fine motor skills, as far as preparation for manual control is concerned, involve hands and fingers. Coordination of hands and fingers is often described as requiring strength, flexibility, and dexterity. The coordination of eye-hand movement is referred to as visual-motor skills
Development of these muscles will greatly increase the opportunities for independence. An individual who does not have full use of their legs can get around with the use of a wheel chair, but one who does not have use of their hands and arms will be for more dependent on others in daily life. With the use of hands, one can feed oneself, write, operate a computer, keyboard, or joystick, dial a telephone…etc.
Close attention to proper positioning, thus inhibiting abnormal reflexes, is always important to ensure the greatest opportunity for gaining more mastery with fine motor skills.
Squish, posting boxes (full geometric shapes to start) small blocks, bristle blocks, large knob puzzles, peg boards, pop up toy. Stacking pegs, bead stringing, lacing, stacking/nesting blocks, cutting, and coloring are all excellent fine motor activities
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Curiosity Cube
Six sides of activities to explore. Moving bead maze, spinning disks, mirror, clicking sounds, rattles, rainstick sounds. Age 9 months and up. By Early Years, International Playthings. |
Galt Pop Up Toy
Award - Winning product, Worldwide
Amusing wooden toy with 4 color peg figures which bob up and down on concealed springs. Designed to encourage eye/hand coordination and introduce color awareness. Number 1 favorite by therapist.
Look for a feature article in the November- 2004 issue of Parenting Magazine
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The Original Rollercoaster
This toy has been a classic for over twenty years and is now entertaining a new generation of children! It is a favorite of pediatricians, teachers, and parents, and has been acclaimed as the most fun educational toy in today's market. The Rollercoaster is a three-dimensional manipulative experience in the perceptual, motor, and language areas. Developmental and learning skills are "challenged" through fun play! A Best-Seller! Kids can't keep their hands off this exciting, stimulating, and fascinating toy! Manufactured by Anatex |
| Lock a Block. Shape and color matching fun! Includes a super-strong, lockable box and two full sets of 3-dimensional sorting blocks. This is a great choice for a 1st sorting block. No matter which way a shape is presented, if it's the correct opening, it will go through. |
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MUSICAL SHAPE SORTER
A shape sorter that makes animal sounds! Features cute animals that make realistic sounds when pressed. Shapes can be removed, and they rattle when shaken. Sorter also plays a melody! Back features a mirror, clicking dial and mini abacus. Age: from 12 months. Available through Small World Toys. |
BUSY BOX
Six sides jam packed full of fun! Activity box features clicking clock, moving beads, shape sorter, telephone with animal sound buttons, pop-up bear plus moving bear in car. Key unlocks door to reveal shapes, gears move and click. Age: from 18 months.
Available through Small World Toys. |
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BUSY VEHICLES SOUND PUZZLE
Hear the corresponding sound as you put the puzzle piece back! Six puzzle pieces to match and create six sounds. Batteries included. Recommended age: 18 months to 3 years.
Available through Small World Toys. |
Pathfinder - Explore the Trails of Pathfinder.
Let your imagination travel on a wonderful sensory adventure...
guide the beads along paths to get to your final destination. Use the enclosed pattern cards as you choose the routes.
Moving forward and backtracking challenges the basic skills of logical thinking, eye-hand coordination and visual tracking. Pattern Cards Included. By Anatex. |
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