The physical development of children is very important to us here at Step2. The toys that we create help develop the sensory, fine motor and gross motor skills of toddlers and preschoolers. Fine motor skills are defined as “actions performed with the small muscles in the hands, fingers and wrist.” Many of the new toys from spring 2013 collection will help increase the fine motor skills of your little ones.
The Stack ‘n Stay Hamburgers and Stack ‘n Stay Smores food sets help children to stack together different foods that are found in and on a hamburgers and smores. Children can interchange all of the topping on the hamburgers and smores to create a new recipe. In addition, children will be able to associate the realistic color of the play food with the actual food. Also, children can count the different play food they put onto and take off the burger and smores. These food sets can be used with play kitchens and also with the Fixin’ Fun Outdoor Grill. This particular grill also features another food play set, which is the Stack ‘n Stay Hot Dog set. Playing with the grill knobs and flipping the food on the grill will also enhance the use of a child’s fine motor skills.
The Sand-Tastic Construction Set and Sand-Tastic Castle Set will teach children how to shovel, pour, build, and roll while in the sandbox. The characters that are on the truck and bulldozer are interchangeable, which will help children to click pieces together just like they do on the Stack ‘n Stay play sets. In order to increase the different skills that children are developing, you can also put marshmallows or rice instead of sand in the sandbox. By replacing the sand for other materials, children will be able to improve their sensory skills.
Besides playing with shovels and sand sets in sandboxes, the Fun & Sun Climber and Sandbox, which was also released this spring, can help assist with fine motor skills. This toy includes a shovel for digging and pouring sand in the sandbox portion and through the cascade accessories. This toy not only helps with fine motor skills but gross motor skills by encouraging children to climb and slide using big muscle movements.
The toys from the spring 2013 collection are different from traditional fine motor skills activities such as cutting paper and tying shoe laces. The frequent change of activity and position will keep children fascinated. What activities and toys do your children play with to develop their fine motor skills?
