As a developmental pediatrics nurse and mom of three, I love watching fine motor skills develop naturally through play. There are so many toys marketed for this, some amazing, some overpriced, so I’ve rounded up my top 20 toys for fine motor development in preschoolers. These are toys we use and love in our own home.
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I think one of the things I love best about toys is that they are tools for helping us as parents engage with our little ones. There are so many screens around our daily lives, however kids thrive on human interactions. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) this interaction is essential for a child’s development. The best part? Kids don’t even realize they’re building skills when it’s done through play.
Looking for more ideas? You might also love our gift guide for kids who love animals, our roundup of the best games for preschoolers, or our list of screen free road trip activities to keep little hands busy on the go.
Why Are Fine Motor Skills Important?
As your child grows more independent, developing fine motor skills becomes essential. From buttoning coats to using scissors, these skills help little ones gain confidence in daily tasks. Simple play activities like molding Play-Doh (for hand strength) or doing puzzles (for hand-eye coordination and problem solving) are powerful ways to support this growth.
Top 20 Toys for Fine Motor Development
1. Magnatiles
These colorful tiles are hands-down the most played-with toy in our house. My boys have built zoos, racetracks, marble runs and entire cities with them. They’re sturdy, endlessly creative, and perfect for strengthening fine motor coordination as kids connect and balance their structures.
2. Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are simple to set up and endlessly customizable. Fill a bin with rice, beans, or pebbles and add scoops, spoons, or tongs for hours of play. Kids work on pouring, grasping, and hand-eye coordination while engaging their senses and imagination.
3. Shape Sorter
A classic for a reason! Shape sorters encourage problem-solving, spatial awareness, and fine motor control. Younger toddlers can start with simple wooden sorters, while preschoolers will love ones with more complex shapes and colors.
4. Play-Doh
Play-Doh is one of my favorite ways to build hand strength, a key skill for handwriting. Kids can roll, squeeze, flatten, and create anything they dream up. Add tools or cookie cutters for even more opportunities to work those little muscles.
5. Wooden Blocks
Simple wooden blocks are a great way to invite open ended play. From stacking towers to building race tracks, every structure helps strengthen hand control, coordination, and balance. Plus, they’re a timeless toy that never goes out of style.
6. Color Sorting Toy
This toy not only works on fine motor skills but also is great for hand eye cooridination and color recognition. It packs up compactly making it a great choice for an on the go activity!
7. Stacking Cups
Perfect for bath time or sensory play, stacking cups let kids practice pouring, stacking, and nesting. They’re great for developing wrist rotation and coordination and small enough to toss in a diaper bag for a grab and go toy!
8. Chunky Crayons
Chunky crayons are perfect for small hands learning to color and grasp. They help kids strengthen their fingers and develop proper pencil grip, laying the groundwork for writing skills. Plus, they’re colorful, fun, and safe for little artists.
9. Lego Duplo Blocks
Duplos are a family favorite and great for all ages. As kids connect and pull apart the blocks, they build strength in their hands and fingers. The best part? They also boost problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration during play.
10. My First Toolbox Book
This interactive board book introduces early tool use concepts like hammering, twisting, and sawing all through play. It’s sturdy enough for little hands and a fun way to build coordination while encouraging curiosity about how things work.
11. Bead Maze
A staple in every waiting room for a reason! Bead mazes help kids strengthen their fingers and wrists as they guide the beads along twisting wires. They’re simple, durable, and perfect for developing control and concentration.
12. Bristle Blocks
These interlocking blocks are a great sensory play toy. They build hand strength, creativity, and patience while encouraging imaginative play. A fun twist on traditional building toys!
13. Construction Vehicle Building
These kid friendly take apart vehicles are perfect for little builders. This toy was created perfectly for little learners, the screws are large to help provide confidence with fine motor skills, and there are just enough spots where the child has to assemble the tractor to not overwhelm them.
14. Squigz
Squigz are irresistible! These suction toys stick to tables, windows, or eachother, making them fun to build and pop apart. They’re excellent for hand strength and coordination and equally fun for kids and adults.
15. Lacing Beads
Threading beads onto a string builds precision, hand-eye coordination, and patience. Start with large beads for younger kids and move to smaller ones as their skills improve.
16. Puzzles
Puzzles are fantastic for problem solving and fine motor control. Start with large wooden pieces and gradually move to smaller, more complex ones. Working on puzzles together is also a great way to build confidence!
17. Locks and Latches Board
For kids who love figuring out how things work, this board is a hit. Opening each latch or door requires dexterity, strength, and concentration and the surprise images underneath was always my son’s favorite part!
18. Carrot Harvest Game
This wooden toy is adorable and works on so many good developmental skills. Kids practice grasping, pulling, and sorting as they “harvest” each carrot, all while building coordination and size recognition.
19. Rainbow Counting Bears
Colorful and versatile, counting bears can be used for sorting, scooping, or matching games. As your child gets older they can use the included tongs to add a fun fine motor challenge that strengthens hand muscles and coordination.
20. Animal Pop Up Toy
A toddler (and personal) favorite! This pop up toy helps kids practice pushing, twisting, and pulling, great foundational skills for fine motor development. It’s simple, durable, and really fun for little ones.
A child’s development doesn’t thrive on fancy, expensive toys or electronics, but instead, on human interaction and these toys are tools to facilitate that interaction. So let’s get playing!
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