Top 5 Toys That Support Fine Motor Development (And Why Therapists Love Them)

Fine motor skills are essential for everything from holding a pencil to buttoning a shirt. The best part? Play is one of the most effective ways to strengthen these tiny muscles and improve coordination. Here are five toys pediatric therapists love — and why they work so well.

1. Building Blocks (Like LEGO® or Mega Bloks®)

These encourage kids to use a pincer grasp, improve hand strength, and develop spatial awareness. Bonus: they’re great for creativity and patience too.

2. Play-Doh® or Therapy Putty

Squishing, rolling, pinching, and cutting dough helps strengthen hand muscles. Add small beads or buttons for a fun “treasure hunt” that challenges finger dexterity.

3. Lacing Beads or Lacing Cards

Threading beads onto a string helps build bilateral coordination (using both hands together) and visual-motor integration — key for handwriting and dressing skills.

4. Tweezers & Tongs Games

Games that involve picking up small objects with tweezers work the fine muscles used for gripping a pencil or holding utensils.

5. Pegboards and Puzzle Boards

These support hand-eye coordination and problem-solving, while helping children learn to manipulate small objects with control.

Why These Toys Matter

At Darling Pediatric Therapy, we use these types of toys in sessions because they’re fun, motivating, and help build essential life skills. And when kids enjoy what they’re doing, they’re more likely to stick with it.