Super Simple Motor Skill Builders for Toddlers. So Easy It's Almost Effortless
Crawl, walk, pull, and tugs. All parents love to see their growing child’s motor skills being developed, and here are 8 super simple motor skill builders for toddlers. Milestones are adorable and exciting. I’ve used personally used these super easy and affordable ways that are shared here. They will help develop your toddlers’ fine and gross motor skills in ways that you probably haven’t thought of.
Busy Time Busy Buddies
My daughter keeps me much more occupied since she turned 1 year. And with school out and nurseries closed big brother wants a piece of the pie too. She has the energy of an extraordinary princess, so finding ways to keep her busy is a must. Along with her my son Ephraim, who I would often refer to as the energizer baby, has energy like crazy. And he also has lots of fun with some of these, even at 4 years old.
I’m no doctor or expert, but research shows that fine and gross motor skills require a variety of exercises and activities to aid in their proper function and development. Of course, play is a great form of exercise that is always enjoyable and entertaining. Hence the reason I choose to play any day. Super fun, simple play!
1. Orbeez Sensory Play
Orbeez are great fun and are useful for building your child’s motor skills. When placed in bottles, balloons, and tubs these for great opportunities to develop your toddler’s motor skills in their hands and fingers especially.
Orbeez Sensory Play and Activities for Kids
I have a post dedicated to orbeez cause they are truly a lot of fun. Do visit the link above for more on how you can use orbeez for motor skill development.
2. Discovery Bags, Boxes and Jars
Curiosity is a big thing for toddlers as they learn about their environment. These are simple, effective, and easy to do. All you need is a few empty gift bags, boxes, or empty plastic jars. Place a variety of safe items into the bag, box, or jar whichever you choose. Items can be varied, some big, others small (not too small for toddlers to put in their mouth) Then watch your toddler explore.
What to expect
This simple activity will help your child as they move larger muscles in their arms, shoulders, and fingers while digging through the bag or box and grabbing items that pique their interest. Bigger boxes are even more fun and can hold a larger variety of items. Things that have various textures are an important part of this activity, smooth, spongy, fluffy, rough, soft, and so forth.
Also, include items that make some noise, like rattles and whistles. It’s a thrill to watch, try it, and watch your child grow and glow. Some of the items I included in my discovery boxes are; foam shapes, pony bead necklaces, toy flashlights, a fan, another small box with a lid, a whistle, spongy blocks, and balls among other things. They will love it!
3. Yogurt cups
Yes – empty ones of course! This is one of my favorite play time items because they are so versatile. I use them for activities with my children every day. Yes that may sound strange I know, but grab a few instead of tossing them out and you will see for yourself what I mean. You’ll find yourself and your toddlers, laughing, jumping, and spinning around in excitement. They are versatile and toddlers love them. Motor skills like pouring, stacking grabbing, and yes knocking them over.
4. Inflatables - super simple motor skill builders for toddlers
These are light and come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Balls, bats, fruit, food, animals you name it. And yes they are very budget-friendly. For my toddlers, I like to have some that are fully inflated and others that I leave partially inflated. Why? I have observed that there is a bit of a difference in helping develop gross and fine motor skills using them that way. Fully inflated encourages lifting with both hands, stooping, kicking, and running. For instance, think of a large fully inflated beach ball. While partially inflated encourages pinching and grasping with one hand and fingertips. Try it and you’ll see what I mean and comment below, and tell me if you spot the difference.
5. Buttons
Yep also available in a variety of sizes and colors, I like to mix it up. This one requires a little bit more supervision since buttons can be placed into the mouth. But have no fear, just be sure to be there. As simple as they are, they are great for building those fine motor skills in the fingers. With these, you can encourage your toddler to grasp smaller objects. Start with a bigger size and then go smaller and smaller. You can even use these for color-matching games that aid with coordination. Have a variety of colors and have your toddler place the buttons into a cup or jar. I’ve included a short video of how it works.
6. Magna Doodles
A simple toy, but it is a good aid in motor skill development.
How?
The Magna doodle helps toddlers grasp, scribble, move their hand from left to right, and also lifting, even though it’s very light. They are small and very durable and easy for toddlers to hold. For some reason, my daughter prefers to carry it around using the stylus but it’s all good.
7. A stack of books as a Motor Skill Builder for Toddlers
Seems absurd right? Well, it’s not. Get some of your child’s favorite storybooks. Mix them up; include those that play music, soft books, pop-up books, a coloring book, and so forth. Of course, not books that are heavy and will cause harm. You’ll need about five of them. Include some simple objects in between one or two of the pages. Let the objects peak through. Use items like a bookmark with fringe or a piece of ribbon, a crayon, a mitten, and a pony bead necklace. You would be fascinated as your toddler searches through the pages looking for the items in the book or looking at the books themselves.
This simple stack of books will help promote wrist flexibility, grasping, gripping with fingers, and lifting. And you will discover others too. Leave a comment to let me know how this activity helped your toddlers’ motor skills grow.
8. Plastic Clappers
This is a simple object but I like it, not because it’s noisy, but because it helps with my toddlers’ gross and fine motor skills. Simply holding them, opening and closing them, or putting their favorite song on and dancing around with them. They are lots of fun, and affordable, and encourages movements in hands and dancing where the whole body gets active. With the help of a good song, you can make good use of clappers to build your child’s motor skills. They are available in different sizes which is great. Be sure to choose one that’s appropriate for your toddler. And clap away!
Yep That's IT! Super SImple
Yes, that’s a short list of some Super Simple Motor Skill Builders For Your Growing Toddler you can have great fun with, or should I say watch your children have fun with them as they grow. As always thank you for reading this post. Do check out some of these here below.
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Love you for reading and sharing as always.
Do Stay Safe And Blessed
Keep up the good work Yana! I’m so proud of you.
Thanks Renee! Your support means alot
Thanks Sis. Faithful Pet! Your Support means alot
Excellent Yana! These are super simple ideas all parents can use. May God continue to bless the work of your hands.
Yana you made me feel like being a child again
I love these ideas! I need to try the yogurt cup one, I’m always looking for budget-friendly ways to keep my toddler entertained.
Thank Catherine. Yogurt cups are lots of fun you won’t regret it. Stay safe and blessed