In toddlerhood, your little explorer is learning to control their body more confidently and direct their movements with intention. Whether it’s learning to walk, grasping objects, or judging speed and distance, your child’s motor development progresses every day. This article explains what the term motor skills actually encompasses and how you can specifically support your toddler’s abilities.
What is motor skills?
The term motor skills refers to movement controlled by the nervous system: the coordination of the muscles and how they work together. Even though motor development begins in the womb, the basic abilities needed for purposeful coordination are learned during the first years of life. By around the age of seven, these skills are fully developed. The first years of life are therefore crucial for motor development because, during this time, the brain matures and forms its complete structures. Through activity and practice, new connections between nerve cells are constantly formed, and motor development progresses in leaps and bounds.
There is a distinction between Gross and fine motor skills . First, babies and toddlers develop gross motor skills, including the coordination of their arms and legs. The prerequisites for developing gross motor skills are stable musculature, the ability to perceive the body, and a well-developed sense of balance. Your little explorer naturally develops and refines their gross motor skills through walking, climbing, balancing, and throwing. You’ll see: if you practice these activities regularly, their movements will become increasingly fluid over time.
Fine motor skills include all more precise movements with hands and feet, or fingers and toes. Hand-eye coordination is also part of it. In addition to well-developed gross motor skills, good visual perception is another prerequisite for developing fine motor skills. Your toddler develops fine motor skills effortlessly, for example, while drawing, kneading, or playing with marbles or LEGO bricks.
How can you promote your child's motor skills?
Even in infancy, your little explorer’s motor development progresses every day. It is primarily stimulated through the basic senses—sight, hearing, touch, and smell. You can activate your baby’s senses especially well through close body contact, for example during a massage. Smells, sounds, and encouragement to grasp and turn also support the development of body awareness, even in babies. This, in turn, forms the basis for gross motor skills.
Healthy, curious children generally develop their motor skills quite naturally and at their own pace. Even though an elaborate training program isn’t necessary, you can specifically support your child’s motor skills from around one year old—for example, with playful gymnastic exercises that spark a joy of movement. Confidence in different movement sequences supports and strengthens their self-confidence. We’ve put together a few tips and games for you that are not only fun, but also help develop your toddler’s motor skills in a natural way:
Games to promote motor skills
1. Sand Play
Most children love spending time in the sandbox. Playing freely, splashing around, and building is simply great fun—and it comes with a double benefit: moving (ideally barefoot) on the soft, uneven sand surface supports gross motor skills, while filling sand molds also helps your little explorer practice fine motor skills. So, make an extra stop at the sandbox next time.
In winter, or when a trip to the playground isn’t possible, playing with modeling clay is a great at-home alternative. A guide on how you can make colorful modeling clay yourself using household ingredients and completely free of harmful substances can be found in our article “ “.
2. Build an obstacle course
In a homemade obstacle course, your little explorer can really let loose and practice a variety of movements. With cushions, chairs, and boxes (for example, your LILLYDOO monthly box), you can transform your home into an exciting obstacle course in no time—perfect for crawling under, climbing over, and running around. Through these different movement patterns, your toddler automatically trains their body awareness and, as a result, their motor skills. To keep the fun safe, never leave your child unattended during play.
3. Sign language games
Finger plays are wonderful for promoting hand-eye coordination, especially if your little explorer can already join in independently. But even younger children enjoy watching the hand movements of mom or dad. We’ve selected a lovely finger play for you. Of course, you can also let your creativity run free and come up with your own rhyme.
Es regnet ganz sacht
It is raining very gently
and already one night.
( You are tapping with your fingertips on the table )
It is raining heavily now,
It will rain more soon.
( Your fingertips tap more forcefully on the table )
It's thundering and lightning,
( Now you pound the table with your fists, and your hand draws a lightning bolt in the air )
the [Insert Your Child's Name] is already dashing off
( You clap your hands together )
into the house,
then she/he looks out
( You shape a house with your hands and peek through it )
and says: „Oh how fine!
Now it is sunshine.
( Your arms form a large circle )
After a few rounds, your child will likely no longer be satisfied with simply watching and will want to try the movements themselves. Encourage them to join in by repeating the finger play regularly and sharing their excitement when a movement works.
4. Thread the chains
With a long piece of string and various objects suitable for threading, even young children can string a necklace and practice hand-eye coordination. In addition to a long piece of string, you’ll need different objects with large holes that can serve as “beads.” These can be, for example, empty toilet paper rolls, rigatoni, large wooden beads, or empty yarn spools—your imagination is the limit. After tying a knot at one end of the string, your little explorer can thread as many objects as they like. However, be sure not to leave your child unattended to prevent them from swallowing any of the objects or accidentally injuring themselves with the string.
5. Sorting stations
A sorting station can keep your little one entertained for hours. However, you don’t need to buy a special toy for this, as household items also make excellent sorting materials. Pinecones, corks, walnuts, marbles, thick wooden beads, or similar items can be easily sorted from a large bowl into a muffin tin or an egg carton. Picking up the objects and exploring their different textures is a wonderful way to train your little explorer’s fine motor skills. The same rule applies here: don’t leave your child alone while playing, to prevent any choking hazards.
We hope we’ve given you a few ideas for supporting your little explorer’s motor skills in a playful way. When you’re having fun with it, the training effect will come naturally.
