Hey mommies, I hope all of you are having a fun roller coaster ride with your little one. As for me, my journey with my little one is much more than a roller coaster ride - with each passing day it’s a new learning for both of us. I know you all will agree with me. Today I’ll be covering a very crucial part/development stage that one must be familiar with. So the topic for today is - How to help your child develop motor skills? I know, many moms are wondering what is – Motor skill? A motor skill is simply an action that involves your baby using his muscles. Motor skills are larger movements your baby makes with his arms, legs, feet or his entire body. It also includes eye-hand coordination skills such as ball skills (throwing, catching, and kicking). I hope now, all moms out there must have understood what actually motor skills are. Each stage of development in your child is very important and we as moms should be familiar with developmental stages and should keep a track. You can see visible motor development skills once your child is almost a year old, there are different sets of skills according to their age. Early motor development skill that one can notice are-
- Your child will be able to stand and sit
- Walk forward/backward
- Catch or throw
- Clap hands
These are the basic or most common motor skills one notices initially. We cannot force a child to develop any skill, as its God gifted, but sometimes we do need to help them, so it becomes easy for the baby to learn fast. As the baby is really very small, we can’t push /force things on them, so we have to help them develop the first motor skill. 
As parents, we can help them in standing up by holding their hands or buying them walkers(the draggable ones and not the ones where kid can sit), so that they can stand and try to walk and explore. Once the child is comfortable they would try to stand or sit. Similarly, we can give them the small ball(s), which has no weight so that they can throw and their hand muscles have movement and so on. For any motor skill development in toddlers we need to keep in mind the safety one has to follow. As our babies are very small we need to be very attentive all the time, similarly while purchasing toys for them we need to cross check each and every detail. Talking about grown-up babies and helping them to develop motor skill is not as difficult as the first (toddlers) phase. Grown up babies are strong and ready to explore things on their own, they need directions and then they are good to go. 
We can surely help them with following activities:
- Holding a pencil
- Helping them in drawing lines
- Colouring
- Block building
- Filling & emptying a container
- Dressing and undressing their toys
- Trying to construct sentences
- Playing with others in a park
There are various activities that are important for a child for overall well-being. Why is it important for parents to keep a record or I should say why should we help our children in developing motor skill - all these activities help us to understand the growth/development in a child. No two children are same, so some may start early or late, but we should keep motivating our children. If one fails to show any development after many attempts, then it's best to consult your doctor, so that he can start the medical procedure soon before it becomes something serious.
FAQ's
Q. What are motor skills in babies and toddlers?
Ans.Motor skills are actions that involve the movement of muscles. These include large movements like crawling, walking, jumping (gross motor skills) and smaller, precise actions like holding a spoon or drawing (fine motor skills).
Q. At what age do motor skills start developing in children?
Ans.Basic motor skills begin to emerge during infancy. You may notice early signs like sitting, clapping, and standing between 6–12 months. More advanced skills like walking, catching, and drawing typically develop between ages 1–3.
Q. How can I help my baby develop motor skills safely?
Ans.You can gently support their sitting and standing, offer lightweight toys or balls to encourage muscle movement, and use walkers that promote standing (not seated ones). Always supervise activities closely to ensure safety.
Q. What are some fun activities to encourage motor skill development in toddlers?
Ans.Try activities like:
- Throwing and catching soft balls
- Playing with stacking blocks
- Clapping games and musical movement
- Filling and emptying containers
- Simple puzzle solving
Q. Are fine motor skills different from gross motor skills?
Ans.Yes. Fine motor skills involve small muscle movements (like holding a crayon), while gross motor skills involve large movements (like walking or climbing stairs). Both are essential for your child’s development.
Q. What are signs that my child is developing motor skills properly?
Ans.Common signs include the ability to sit without support, crawl, stand, walk, use hands to play with toys, and eventually draw, build, or feed themselves with assistance.
Q. My child seems late in developing motor skills. Should I worry?
Ans.Every child develops at their own pace. However, if you observe significant delays despite encouragement, it's best to consult a pediatrician or child development specialist for early intervention.
Q. What kind of toys support motor development?
Ans.Choose toys that promote physical interaction, like:
- Soft balls
- Blocks or stacking rings
- Crayons and coloring books
- Pull/push toys
- Simple shape sorters
- Always check for safety, size, and age-appropriateness.
Q. How can I support motor skills in older toddlers or preschoolers?
Ans.Encourage them to draw, dress up dolls, play with building sets, pour from small containers, or participate in playground activities that involve climbing, running, or balancing.
Q. Why is tracking motor skill development important for parents?
Ans.Monitoring motor skills helps identify your child's developmental milestones and detect any delays early. It also supports better physical, cognitive, and emotional growth through targeted play and learning.
