Toddler Thinks: Fine Motor Skills

All three of these lessons promote the development of fine motor skills.  Although it may seem like it's just play, your child will be exercising their fingers, using strong hand and finger muscle movement, and working on hand-eye coordination.

Toddler Think #1: Pipe Cleaners in a Colander
* In this lesson, all you need is a colander and some pipe cleaners.  Demonstrate how to put a pipe cleaner through one of the holes in the colander.  Then let your child continue the process on their own.  Encourage them to hold the bottom of the pipe cleaner, close to the hole, in order to have better success.  They can do this for a long time!

Toddler Think #2: Cotton Balls in a Water Bottle
* Using an empty water bottle, allow your child to place cotton balls or pom pom balls inside, one at a time.  Let them continue until the bottle is full. Empty the bottle and repeat. (It's a little tricky getting them back out of the bottle :))

Toddler Think #3: Clothespin Pick-Up
* Demonstrate to your child how to hold a clothespin and pinch it to open. Then show them how to pick up a cotton ball with it.  Guide their hands to do this first, then let them try on their own.  This lesson is a little more difficult than the others because figuring out how to use a clothespin is hard for little ones.  Give them time, and eventually they will get the hang of it!