5 games to promote motor skills

In toddlerhood, your little explorer is learning to better control their body and intentionally direct their movements. Whether it's learning to walk, grasping, or assessing speed and distance: your child's motor development makes daily progress. What exactly the term motor skills encompasses and how you can specifically promote your toddler's abilities are explained in this article.

What is motor skills?

The term motor skills refers to the movement controlled by the nervous system. Coordination of the muscles and their mutual interaction. Even though the development of motor skills begins already in the womb, the fundamental abilities for targeted coordination are only learned during the first years of life. By about the age of seven, they are then 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 training, 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 their gross motor skills, including the coordination of their arms and legs. The prerequisites for developing gross motor skills are a stable musculature, the ability to perceive the body, and a well-developed sense of balance. Your little explorer naturally develops and refines his gross motor skills through walking, climbing, balancing, and throwing. You will see: if you practice these activities regularly, his movements will become increasingly fluid over time.

To Fine motor skills count all more precise movements with hands and feet or fingers and toes. Also the Hand-eye coordination is part of it. In addition to adequately developed gross motor skills, good visual perception is also a 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 I promote my child's motor skills?

Even in infancy, your little explorer's motor development progresses every day. It is primarily stimulated through the basic senses, namely through sight, hearing, , touch, and smell. You can especially activate your baby's senses through intensive body contact, for example during a . But also smell, acoustic stimuli, and the stimulation to grasp and turn contribute to the development of body awareness even in babies. This, in turn, serves as the basis for gross motor skills.

Healthy, interested children generally develop their motor skills quite automatically and at their own pace. Even though an elaborate training program is not necessary, you can specifically promote your child's motor skills from around one year old, for example with playful gymnastic exercises that awaken the joy of movement. Confidence in various movement sequences contributes to and boosts their self-confidence. We have compiled some 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 has a double positive side effect: while the movement (preferably barefoot) on the soft, uneven sand surface stimulates gross motor skills, your little explorer also trains their fine motor skills by filling the sand molds. 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 alternative for at home. 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 self-made 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, inviting crawling under, climbing over, and running around. Through the different movement patterns, your toddler automatically trains their body awareness and consequently their motor skills. To ensure the fun of the obstacle course remains unspoiled, you should never leave your child unattended during play.

3. Sign language games

Finger plays are great for promoting hand-eye coordination, especially if your little explorer can already participate on their own. But even young children enjoy watching the hand movements of mom or dad. We have 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 are tapping more forcefully on the table )

It's thundering and lightning,

( now you are pounding the table with your fists, 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 )

Certainly, after a few times, your child will no longer be satisfied with just curious watching and will want to try the movements themselves. Encourage them to participate by regularly repeating the finger play and sharing in the joy when a movement is successful.

4. Thread the chains

With a long piece of string and various objects suitable for threading, even young children can string a necklace and train their hand-eye coordination. In addition to a long piece of string, you will need different objects with large holes that 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 all the objects as much 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 toys. , pinecones, corks, walnuts, marbles, thick wooden beads, or similar items can be wonderfully sorted from a large bowl into a muffin tin or an egg carton. Grasping the objects and exploring their different textures wonderfully trains 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 could give you some ideas on how to promote your little explorer's motor skills in a playful way. When you're having fun with it, the training effect will come naturally. :)