Why are fine motor skills important?
Fine motor skills are crucial to your child’s ability to write. Children with poor fine motor development are unable to properly grasp and hold a pencil. Thus, being unable to form letters/ numbers correctly. Fine motor skills are developed overtime and are considered pre-writing skills. Fine motor skills are more complex as they are built on gross motor skills and brain development. Gross motor skills and fine motor skills work hand in hand. Adults often take for granted how difficult developing these natural skills can be!
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Tips for doing activities with your toddler
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Expect the unexpected. Activities often do not result in the way you expect them to. At this age, keep it fun and focus on the process instead of the result.
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Keep activities simple. Toddlers often have the most fun with the simplest of materials- pots and pans, plastic water bottles, crumpled up paper; you get the idea.
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Plan ahead. Toddlers bore easily so make sure you have a few activities plan in case they are early finishers or uninterested in the planned activity. Leave materials accessible so that your child can play with them again later.
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Prepare for a mess! Even the most tame of activities can lead to a mess. Have a tarp ( I like to use a plastic tablecloth) and baby wipes on hand for a quick clean up.
Tinker Trays
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What is a Tinker Tray?
A tinker tray or loose parts tray is a tray or container filled with loose parts or found objects. No need to purchase fancy materials. Most of the items used in the tinker tray can be found around the house! I love tinker trays because they are an open- ended activity enabling children to use critical thinking skills to create art or other projects. Tinker trays can be used with children from as young as 2 (make sure the child is well supervised and you choose large loose parts that are larger to prevent a choking hazard). Tinker trays for young children often involve manipulating play dough, pre-writing practice or making collages with the loose parts which is perfect for fine motor skills. Tinker trays can pose STEAM challenges to be adapted for middle or even high school age children.
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What can you use in a Tinker Tray?
Below are some suggestions of items that can be used in the Tinker Tray. Mom knows best so feel free to tailor items that are safe and interesting for your child.
Nature items- leaves, rocks, shells, clothespins, popsicle sticks, toothpicks, chopsticks, wooden beads, wooden shapes, sticks,glass beads, corks, sea shells, acorns, pinecones
Art materials- pipe cleaners, pony beads, pompoms, felt balls, shoe strings, cotton balls, googley eyes
Manipulatives- legos, blocks
Sensory items- playdough, pasta
Found items- straws cardboard, aluminum foil, toilet paper/paper towel rolls, plastic lids/tops, marbles, game pieces, buttons, nuts and bolts, rubber bands, paper clips, binder clips, bottle tops
What kind of container do you use for a Tinker Tray?
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Muffin tins
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Ice trays
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Wooden divider trays
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Flower craft trays
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Silverware organizers
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Desk drawer dividers
Getting Started with your Tinker Tray
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Place the container or tray with materials in front of your child. Innately, children have the ability to make “something out of nothing” as my mother used to say. Allow your child to freely explore the materials. Pay attention to what materials your child likes to use in the Tinker tray for future reference.
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Ask questions regarding your child’s creation. In younger children, verbalizing their process provides practice in communication skills. It also lets your child know that you are interested in their activities. It creates a sense of pride and accomplishment. Keep in mind that some creations may look nothing like what your child says it is. This is ok! Never assume what it is. Just ask and be supportive! It's all about the process and not the product.
Alternative tinker trays
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Playdough- Encourage your child to build playdough creations using the loose parts.
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Mirrors- place loose parts on a mirror and let your child construct a unique collage.
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Contact paper- Tape a piece of clear contact paper to a wall or window so that the sticky side is facing out. Your child can make a creation onto the contact paper.
