Motor Skills & Coordination Toys

Why fine motor skills matter so much in the early years

Every "big" skill a child will need at school, holding a pencil, using scissors, doing up a coat, tying a shoelace, starts as a small movement practised hundreds of times in play. Fine motor skills toys give a child those repetitions in a way they enjoy: threading a lace, flipping a switch, posting a shape, turning a dial. Gross motor and coordination toys do the same for balance, reaching and crossing the midline.

The Montessori approach treats these as real work, and the toys reflect that. They are made of wood, cotton and silicone, they have a clear purpose, and they let a child see their own progress. Read more in our guide to the Montessori method.

What are the best fine motor toys for toddlers?

• Montessori Busy Board: buckles, zips, laces, switches and a clock face on one portable board. The single best fine motor toy we sell for ages one to four.
• Wooden Switch Board: real toggles, sliders and latches. Toddlers who keep reaching for light switches finally get their own.
• 5-in-1 Activity Cube: bead maze, gears, sorter, and more, each side training a different hand movement.
• Farm Sorting House and Rocket Sorter: posting shapes through matching holes is the classic pincer-grip exercise.
• Busy books: the Bear, Cow, Raccoon and Bible Busy Book are packed with buttons, laces and zips for quiet, focused practice.
• Festive Felt Tree: decorating a felt tree with ornaments is seasonal fine motor practice that toddlers adore.

What are the best coordination toys for babies and toddlers?

• Montessori Play Gym: reaching and batting at hanging elements builds hand-eye coordination from the first weeks.
• FirstSteps Mat: textured surfaces for rolling, crawling and first steps.
• Wooden Farm Truck and Wooden Car: push-along toys that also load, sort and stack.
• Silicone Baby Feeding Set: self-feeding is coordination practice three times a day.

Fine motor milestones by age

• 6-12 months: raking grasp turns into a pincer grip. Pull toys, soft books and first sorters. See toys for 0-12 months.
• 1-2 years: posting, stacking, turning pages, pulling zips. Busy boards and activity cubes. See toys for 1 year olds.
• 2-3 years: threading, twisting lids, buttoning, using a spoon well. Sorting houses, switch boards, busy books. See toys for 2 year olds.
• 3-5 years: cutting, drawing shapes, dressing independently. Practical-life sets and preschool busy books. See toys for 3 year olds.

Every child develops at their own pace. If you have concerns about your child's motor development, talk to your health visitor or paediatrician; these toys are a wonderful support, not a substitute for advice.

Why busy boards and busy books work so well

A busy board puts ten real-world fasteners in front of a child with no consequences for getting them wrong. That freedom is what makes the practice stick. Busy books do the same in a form that fits in a bag, which is why they also lead our Travel Toys collection. Together they cover almost every hand skill a preschool teacher will look for; our 7 skills before preschool guide explains which ones.

Every toy has a 45-day return window.