As time goes on, your baby will grow. And at such an incredible speed, you won't even notice. They'll be able to sit up on their own, stand up, and then take their first steps in the blink of an eye… Fine motor skills are also part of your baby's development , and it's important to keep an eye on them! We'll explain everything!
Photo: © Lune et l'autre
What is fine motor skills?
Fine motor skills involve coordinating the small muscles in the wrist, hand, and fingers to perform very precise movements. Fine motor skills develop differently from one child to another, as each child progresses and evolves at their own pace.
At first, the baby will start by controlling their gross motor skills (the center of their body) and then focus on their fine motor skills (the external parts).
The development of fine motor skills
The development of fine motor skills involves several stages.
Your baby will first go through a phase of reflexive motor skills. They have no control over their movements and, for example, will grasp your finger purely by reflex. Next comes the development of tactile motor skills; your baby increasingly develops the ability to grasp objects voluntarily. They will pick up an object because they want to, beginning to control their hand movements. Around 3 months old, they will grasp an object with one hand, and by around 5 months, they will be able to transfer it from one hand to the other, and by about 6 months, they will be able to grasp it vigorously with both hands.
The child's grasping skills, using their hand and fingers, will also develop. They may begin by grasping an object with outstretched fingers, then curl them towards the palm to grasp something. Finally, they will complete the development of their fine motor skills by grasping an object with their thumb, which separates from the other fingers.
The famous thumb-index finger pinch will be developed around 9 months of age.
Why is fine motor skills important?
Developing fine motor skills is very important. Fine motor skills give children independence in various everyday tasks, such as bringing a spoon to their mouth to eat or dressing themselves. They also develop a baby's abilities and self-confidence.
Fine motor skills and the blw
By starting baby-led weaning (BLW), you'll help your baby develop their fine motor skills. During BLW blw the size of the foods offered will decrease as your baby grows. Your baby will be able to develop their fine motor skills while discovering the delicious flavors of new foods!
Your role? To offer baby safe foods that will evolve along with him/her.
Games that develop fine motor skills
Parental support plays an important role in the development of fine motor skills. To help your little one practice their motor skills, you can provide them with wooden toys adapted to their developmental stage.
We found a great selection of wooden toys that stimulate both visual motor skills and the coordination of precise movements in baby.
Fine motor skills develop from birth with a few small toys specially designed for little hands. Each toy helps awaken your baby's senses by touching or shaking it. Discover our small selection:
Around 3 to 4 months of age , toys for developing a baby's fine motor skills take on a different form. Activity arches placed above the baby are perfect. Your little one can have fun grabbing the different elements of the arch to listen to their sounds and feel their textures. A truly fun and practical toy for developing fine motor skills!
At the start of baby-led weaning, when your baby is 6 months old , the best way to help develop their fine motor skills is with stacking toys. Whether using a fixed structure or the floor, these games teach your baby to concentrate on placing one box on top of another. Let's build some tall towers in the living room!
Once your baby has developed their fine motor skills with the BLW , it's time to introduce more stimulating toys. From 12 months onwards , activity tables, whether on legs or the floor, are perfect. Your little one will be able to touch everything, move objects around, and so on. They'll have fun while improving their dexterity. Pure joy!
Around 18 months old , your child's fine motor skills should be at their peak! However, it's possible to continue developing them while having fun with simple games. These will require concentration and patience, as they involve threading beads. Your little one will be perfectly capable!
