When your child is very young, they’ll begin to learn how to hold things, interact with objects and learn to use different parts of their body. As they grow they will begin to use their hands for a lot of different things. From brushing their teeth, using cutlery at the table, getting dressed to writing to name a few.

To ensure your child continues to practice and develop their fine motor skills, I’ve teamed up with a nursery that specialises in childcare in London to provide ways you can continue to develop those key skills for your child.

Using arts & crafts

One of the biggest activities children will become involved in is through arts and crafts. It gives them a number of ways to have fun in a way that tests their hands, fingers and arms.  These are the key parts of developing those fine motor skills.

Examples of arts and crafts activities your child can do include:

• Needling and felting – a great way for them to practice with their fingers and hands
• Scrapbooking – they’re welcome to make whatever they desire on the paper using scissors, glue and stickers
• Painting – whether it’s with acrylic, oil or watercolour paints they’re practice hand strokes and movements in a continuous motion

Play sports with your child

Sports that rely on your hands, like tennis and basketball, are great ways for children to learn about hand coordination. They also help with practicing their fine motor skills. They’ll need to think on the spot about their next move very quickly, often within a second of holding or releasing the ball.

Swimming is also a great way for children to practice their skills. With the many different ways children can learn to swim, with front crawl, breaststroke and backstroke, they will learn to use their hands, arms and legs within the water to control their body movements.