Toys & Gifts Infants & Toddlers The 10 Best Toys for Fine Motor Skill Development By Ashley Ziegler Updated on October 11, 2022 Fact checked by Marley Hall Print We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Verywell Family / Sabrina Jiang Fine motor skills are a major developmental area for kids 2 years and younger, and toys are a great way to help your kid master these skills. The best toys for fine motor skill development are age-appropriate, safe, and have various features to help them learn how to pinch, pull, twist, and more. Since young babies are likely to put toys in their mouths, it's important to find toys that have smooth edges and no small parts that could pose a choking hazard. Other important features to look for include durability and ease of cleaning. You can also find toys that will help them learn colors, numbers, shapes, and other concepts as they grow. We researched popular toys from trusted brands with these features in mind. These are the best toys for fine motor skill development on the market today. Our Top Picks Tomy Toomies Hide & Squeak Eggs at Amazon ($16) Jump to Review VTech Latches and Doors Busy Board at Amazon ($26) Jump to Review Playskool Explore 'N Grow Busy Gears at Amazon ($28) Jump to Review Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog at Amazon ($11) Jump to Review Fisher-Price Smart Stages Piggy Bank at Amazon ($45) Jump to Review Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube at Amazon ($14) Jump to Review Play22 Activity Cube with Bead Maze at Amazon ($30) Jump to Review Step2 Ball Buddies Tunnel Tower at Amazon ($60) Jump to Review Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Peek and Play Busy Garden at Amazon ($30) Jump to Review Learning Resources Hoot the Fine Motor Owl at Amazon ($11) Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look For FAQ Why Trust Verywell Family Tomy Toomies Hide & Squeak Eggs Amazon View On Amazon $16 View On Walmart $27 Pros Budget-friendly Safe for children 18 months old and up Cons Squeaking may be too loud for some We love this pick because it's affordable, simple, and goes beyond fine motor skills. Little ones 18 months old and up can take these eggs apart and put them back together. When the eggs are open, kids can push down on them to hear a squeak noise to further develop their small directed movements. They don't require any batteries, and they're made of durable plastic that's easy to clean. In addition to fine motor skills, this toy also helps kids learn how to sort and match colors. Parents love that the egg carton makes post-playing cleanup and storage a breeze. VTech Latches and Doors Busy Board Amazon View On Amazon $26 View On Barnesandnoble.com $30 Pros Songs and lights included Teaches about animals and numbers Cons Batteries required This learning board has five lock activities that will help strengthen your little one's fine motor skills like twisting, pulling, sliding, and turning. Designed for kids between 1 and 3 years old, this colorful toy goes beyond just fine motor skills as it also helps teach kids about different animals as well as numbers. Don't forget to grab three AA batteries to power up the song and light-up features. Playskool Explore 'N Grow Busy Gears Amazon View On Amazon $28 View On Walmart $35 Pros 11 interchangeable gears Songs and lights included Cons Not recommended for children under 12 months old With this twisty toy, tots 12 months old and up can add or remove gear spokes to create their own little working machine, which they have to spin and turn in order to see it come to life. It comes with 11 brightly colored interchangeable gears, has plenty of buttons for kids to push, and plays songs and lights up! It’s such a fun toy that they’ll never realize they’re learning and developing while they’re playing with it. Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog Amazon View On Amazon $11 View On Walmart $17 View On Office Depot $23 Pros 14 pieces included Easy storage for spikes Cons Spikes cannot be purchased separately There are a lot of ways to learn with this single toy. The little hedgehog has 12 colorful spikes that are molded just right to make them easy for little hands to hold and pull out and then carefully put back into the empty hole. Not only will your kiddo really master those small movements, but they can also start learning how to sort colors, count, and create patterns using the spikes. Fisher-Price Smart Stages Piggy Bank Amazon View On Amazon $45 View On Walmart $40 View On Kohls.com $18 Pros Safe for babies 6 months and up Three learning settings Pig's button nose sings songs/talks Cons Batteries required Tots between 6 and 36 months old can enjoy and learn from this toy piggy bank. It has three learning settings based on age which teach things like numbers, colors, speech, and animal sounds. As toddlers take large coins and push them through the small slot on the piggy’s back, they are using their focus, concentration, and fine motor skills. There’s also a flap on the piggy’s side that needs to be pulled down to access the coins that went through the slot, and when the pig’s button nose is pressed, it will sing songs and talk. Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube Amazon View On Amazon $14 View On Kohls.com $19 Pros Includes 12 shapes Sturdy Cons Not recommended for children under 2 years old Shape sorters are a classic kids' toy because they’re engaging and offer a lot of learning opportunities when playing with blocks. This one is made completely from wood and has 12 blocks in different shapes and colors. The blocks fit neatly into a shape cutout on the cube, which requires the use of fine motor skills to accurately line up the block to the cutout. It’s best for kids 2 years old and up who are strengthening their motor skills. Play22 Activity Cube with Bead Maze Amazon View On Amazon $30 Pros Strengthens more than fine motor skills Five different ways to play Cons Not recommended for children under 12 months Kiddos 12 months old and up will definitely be entertained with this toy which features five different ways to play including a shape sorter, abacus counting beads, wire bead maze, spinning number blocks, and sliding flowers. Each way to play will help strengthen fine motor skills, among others like logic and reasoning, color identification, counting, and hand-eye coordination. Step2 Ball Buddies Tunnel Tower Amazon View On Amazon $60 View On Walmart $45 View On Target $38 Pros Several pieces included No batteries required Cons Not recommended for children under 12 months Complete with a tunnel tower, two trucks, 10 plastic play balls, and two ball flippers, your toddler will be immersed in hours of fun. They can use the flippers to shoot the balls into the tower, which requires aim and the dexterity to pull the flipper down and release it. The trucks are designed to carry the balls down the ramps once they’ve gone through the tunnel and have been released by twisting a little stopper. The toy is the perfect blend of learning and fun for kids between 1 and 3 years old. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Peek and Play Busy Garden Amazon View On Amazon $30 View On Walmart $70 Pros Three-stage learning system Plays music Cons Batteries required This cute little toy has seven different types of play that are perfect for kids between 6 months and 3 years old. Kids can pull, flip switches, spin, push, and turn different parts that will help strengthen their fine motor skills. It also plays music and teaches things like counting, colors, and the alphabet using the three-stage learning system that allows the toy to advance as your child develops. Learning Resources Hoot the Fine Motor Owl Amazon View On Amazon $11 View On Walmart $16 View On Target $11 Pros Budget-friendly Features different shapes/colors Cons Replacement coins not sold Hoot the Owl offers all kinds of fun challenges for kids 18 months old and up. It comes with five brightly colored coins, which are numbered and have different shapes cut out of them, that fit into a slot on top of the owl’s head. The owl’s eyes are little gears that kids can twist with their fingers, its beak squeaks with a little squeeze, and the wings flap by pulling two little circles on the front of the owl in toward each other. Not to mention, it’s really cute! Final Verdict Finding the best toy for your child will depend on where they are developmentally. That said, for kids under one year old, the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Peek & Play Busy Garden (view on Amazon) is a great pick, and the Learning Resources Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog (view on Amazon) is a fun and engaging toy for tots 18 months and up. What to Look for When Buying Toys for Fine Motor Skill Development Age-Appropriate Toy shopping for kids can be fun, but when you're looking for toys to help develop skills, that can be a bit more tricky. When you're looking for toys that build fine motor skills, you'll want to make sure they're age-appropriate for your child. If you buy a toy that's not age-appropriate, you risk your child feeling overwhelmed because it's too advanced or they won't be interested because it's beyond the age recommendation. If you're struggling with where to start for age-appropriate toys, check the manufacturer's age recommendation. You'll want toys that aren't too challenging, but also help children meet their milestones, which gives you an idea of how your child is developing. Once you determine the milestones children need to meet, you can start there to determine what will help and interest your child best for their age. Safety Safety is of the utmost importance when it comes to buying any type of toy. Young children love putting toys in their mouths, so you want to make sure that all toys are the correct size. While there are plenty of smaller toys on the market to help develop fine motor skills, this doesn't mean they're safe for your child. Consider your child's age and if the toy contains any small pieces. To help prevent choking from happening, you'll want to "think large" when it comes to toys. Any toy that is smaller than your child's mouth should be bypassed as they're then a choking hazard. Also, avoid any toys that require button batteries or magnets. Features You may not think of looking at all of a toy's features when out shopping, but what many parents and caregivers don't realize is how important features are for toys and fine motor skills. Fine motor skills include the movement of small muscles in their hands and include activities like pouring liquid into a cup or getting dressed. Many parents and caregivers turn to toys to help develop those skills even more. If you're looking for toys to do just that, check out toys with features like pulling, placing, buttons, or tags. This encourages children to use their hands to accomplish a task and helps develop fine motor skills. Frequently Asked Questions What are fine motor skills? While we know fine motor skills involve the use of hands, it can be much more complex than that. Not only are children using their hands, but their wrists and fingers, too. Most of the time children don't realize how often they're developing fine motor skills in their every day life.Fine motor skills are developed when we use our hands, wrists, and fingers through small muscle movements. It sounds simple, but on the flip side, our brain and muscles essentially talk and are built on gross motor skills, which allow us to make physical movements. These skills are needed for us to complete daily tasks, like brushing our teeth or holding a pencil. When does my baby start to develop fine motor skills? What may be surprising to some parents and caregivers is that the development of fine motor skills begins immediately after birth. During the first three months of a baby's life, they are already developing several important fine motor skills, such as opening their hands and brining their hands to their mouth. It's also a reason why tummy time is so important those first several months of a child's life.After the first three months of a baby's life, fine motor skills begin to involve toys. Whether they briefly hold the toy or reach for it, fine motor skills are encouraged. From there, children become more mobile, and you'll notice their fine motor skills really take off. The 30 Best Infant Toys of 2024 to Help Babies Discover the World Around Them Why Trust Verywell Family Ashley Ziegler is a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce content for a variety of platforms. She’s a mom to 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters and an aunt to 3 nieces and 2 nephews ranging from 5 to 10 years old. Her one-year- old has several of these developmental toys at home including Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog, the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank, and the Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube. More Toys for Kids When it comes to toys for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top toy picks for every developmental stage and personality phase here: The Best Christmas Gifts for Kids The Best Developmental Toys for Babies The Best Tummy Time Toys The Best Active Toys for Toddlers The Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers The Best Toys for Toddlers The Best Educational Toys for Toddlers The Best Phonics Toys for Preschoolers The Best Toys for Learning Letters and Numbers The Best Montessori Toys to Encourage Thoughtful Play The Best Sesame Street Toys The Best Outdoor Toys for Kids of All Ages The Best Dinosaur Toys The Best Toys for Independent Play The Best Snow Toys for Kids The Best STEM Toys for Kids Best Laptop Toys for Kids The Best Social Emotional Learning Toys The Best Robot Toys The Best Ride-On Toys The Best Cleaning Toy Sets The Black-Owned Gift Guide 5 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. CDC. What is a developmental milestone? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to buy safe toys. HealthyChildren.org. Help your child build fine motor skills. NAEYC. What are fine motor skills? Fine motor skills: birth to 2 years | Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit