Motor Skills Activities for Your 2 Year old!​

• Fine and gross motor skills are important to the complete development of your child.  Plus, motor skills are linked to higher academic achievement.
• Two-year-olds should be exploring the world by running, jumping, and climbing.
• Activities that strengthen hand muscles are important for when they learn to write.
• Developing motor skills is a fun way to explore the world with your child.

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Playdough

.  MOTOR SKILLS  .  .  CREATIVITY  .  

• Playdough helps develop muscles that are essential for learning to write.
• Creating with playdough encourages self-expression, imagination, problem solving, spatial awareness, and language development.
• Create a playdough tool kit with items around the house: cookie cutters, craft items (googly eyes, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, etc.) help take playdough creation to the next level.
• Ask your child to explain what they are making to develop language skills.
• Practice letters and numbers by shaping the playdough to look like the first letter in your child’s name.  Trace the letter on a piece of paper and see if they can put the playdough on top to make the letter.  Make sure the letter you write is big so it is not too frustrating for developing fine motor skills.

Play-Doh is a classic for a reason, but if you're feeling creative (and don't mind a little mess) scroll down to the bottom for a playdough home recipe!

ABC Coloring Book

.  MOTOR SKILLS  .  .  PRE-READING SKILLS  . 

• The benefits of coloring activities are astounding!  Physically, coloring helps with motor development and to improve focus and hand eye coordination.  This dexterity will help handwriting develop more easily.
• The structure of coloring pages help children learn about spatial awareness and boundaries (it is totally fine to color outside the lines!!!).
• Encourage familiarity with letters by naming and pointing to the letters on the page.  Have your child repeat the letter name and sound.  Pay special attention to the letters in their name!

BONUS ACTIVITY
Coloring can be frustrating but with some encouragement it can encourage perseverance and focus.  Encourage your child to draw on blank pages and color their own pictures!
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Coloring books will occupy your child almost endlessly, so don't miss out on the opportunity to make it even more beneficial by providing some early literacy skills. 

Safari Puzzle

 MOTOR SKILLS    .  CLASSIFICATION  . 

• Puzzles are a great way to develop motor and observational skills.  Talk to your child about why certain pieces do or do not go together.  This will help foster problem solving abilities.
• Ask your child to make observations about the pictures- the animal name, color, habitat, etc. are all great places to start!  Don’t be afraid to break out your best lion roar!
• Each puzzle gets progressively harder.  Start with the hippo and work your way up to the lion to avoid frustration.

BONUS ACTIVITY
Mix two puzzles together for a challenge!  See if your child can figure out which ones go together.  Make sure to celebrate success and avoid frustration.

Playdough Recipe for Home

• Ingredients: 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 cup water, ½ cup salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 2 teaspoons food coloring
  
• Mix dry ingredients together in a saucepan.
  
• In a separate bowl combine oil, water, and food coloring.
  
• Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
  
• Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until it is solid.
  
• Knead the dough on a hard surface until smooth.
  
• Store in a plastic bag to prevent drying out.