TODDLERS HAND AND FINGER SKILLS

Keeping an eye on your toddlers fine motor skills during the first year of their development probably gets jammed into the overwhelming mental note of things to watch during this first year. The development with hand and eye coordination is vital for your 1 year old's skills and hand control as they examine objects and try new movements. By the end of the first year your toddler will still be struggling to pick up things between their forefinger and thumb but as they approach the middle of their second year, this task will be simple.

Here are a few suggestions to encourage this particular skill set:

Let them turn the page when reading a book
Grab a toy or ball in motion
Cover a cardboard box with paper or a cloth
Build a tower of blocks and knock them down
Put pegs in holes, they love this game
Scribbling and painting
Moulding play dough

Once they have mastered these games and nears 2 years old, you can progress to:

Cutting and Moulding shapes from playdough
Folding paper
Building large Lego pieces
Putting square pegs into matching holes
Taking toys apart and putting them back together

Besides building good hand eye coordination, these activities will help with the concept of in, out, up, down and around.
By this stage your toddler may show a preference to use the right or left hand.   One should never pressure preschoolers to use one or the other and some children may be comfortable using both hands.

Cognitive milestones by age 2 years:

• Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
• Begins to sort by shapes and colors
• Begins make-believe play

Keep in mind that each toddler is different with their development and these are just guidelines for parent's to use.   If any of these milestones are worrying you, a visit to your pediatrician is always useful to put your minds at rest.  

Our highly qualified teachers at Pop-Ins Schoolhouse are very aware of the babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten children, watching and reporting back to parents about the various milestones and how their children are doing. Our toys and activities are geared to encourage the correct milestones for each separate age group and are always willing to talk to and work with parents about any concerns they have.
If you would like to meet with us or take a tour, please feel free to call us and we would gladly show you around our happy facility.

Pop-Ins Schoolhouse
9083 W Peakview Drive
Littleton, CO 80123
Tel: 303-979-0094
(310) 993-0219