by Michele Martinez

Created on: May 26, 2008

When toddlers use their fine motor skills they are getting closer to being ready for the reading and writing learning process. Fine motor skills are those skills that require the small muscles in the fingers along with the eye hand coordination. There are some activities that actually increase the fine motor skill ability. Your toddler is prone to learn his fine motor skills in due time. However you may want to speed up the process so that your child will be writing and reading sooner. Some activities that you may want to have the child doing to increase these fine motor skills are as follows.

Using scissors will not only help the brain in the toddler develop the fine motor skills involved in cutting, but it will also strengthen the muscles involved in making the cutting motion. Having the muscle to properly hold and squeeze the two blades in scissors is important. The toddler may find it difficult at first but just allowing the toddler to practice the squeezing motion is a good exercise for the toddler's finger muscles. This is an effective method to develop fine motor skills.

Have you ever wondered why toddlers love coloring so much? It is as though coloring was embedded in them as something that they must do. Anytime a toddler puts any kind of writing utensil in his hand it is a good thing. It helps them develop their little muscles in their fingers so that they become stronger. It is almost as thought it is predestined for toddlers to use crayons. So get the crayons out and allow the toddler to color, coloring books or paper.

Using finger paint and chalk are other ways to develop fine motor skills in a toddler. Go out side and spread some chalk out on the sidewalk. Show the toddler what the chalk is for. Begin writing something on the sidewalk. Tell the toddler to try to do it also. Having a choice is good because if it is not conducive to going outside (rain or snow) then you can pull out the paint. Finger painting is good however learning to hold a paintbrush is better. Of course allow the toddler to do both.

Toys that have fine motor skills fun built into them are a good way to help your toddler develop. Toys like placing the plastic shape into the whole made of the same shape. Toys like tool sets where the toddler has to use his fine motor skills to rotate a screwdriver to twist a screw in. There are a list of toys that accomplish the task of helping a toddler develop his fine motor skills and there are also many more activities a toddler can participate in to do the same. These are just a few of the many activities a toddler can carry out to develop his fine motor skills. The most important concern to keep in mind is to have fun. It is easier to learn something when you are having fun.

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