Arrange to take children on walks around the neighborhood or trips to the park or playground. Young children also need to be able to control the smaller movements of their hands and fingers. Control of these small muscles is important for children's handwriting skill development. Children are using fine muscle skills when they grasp, touch and feel objects of different sizes, textures and weights. Learning how to manage buttons, snaps, zippers and other clothing fasteners also helps children learn to control these important muscles.
Artistic play helps children develop both creative and fine muscle skills.
These skills develop best when adults allow children to try things without being pressured to do them a certain way. Young children need lots of practice learning and using words to talk about what they see, know and do. They need good language skills to help them organize their thinking. Children develop language skills from their interactions with others. Parents' use of language and their responses to children's attempts to communicate guide language learning.