Putting on shoes, using a fork, painting a picture for Nana, fine motor skills give kiddos the gift of independence and help them get creative (which is basically the stuff of life). It’s pretty cool to watch as it all unfolds, too. The more self-sufficient they are, the more their confidence grows. With self-assurance comes an eagerness to explore and learn, and the next thing you know they’re brushing their teeth and dressing themselves for the day. Or at least attempting to! Other benefits include:

Cognitive skills lay the foundation for a lifetime of receiving information. As children play with shapes, puzzles, and patterns, they learn about strategy while understanding how things fit together within a larger picture. So what looks like simply fitting a triangular block into a triangular hole is actually a pretty big milestone for those developing minds. They’re learning to organize their ideas and apply knowledge through choice and evaluation. How cool! Cognitive skills also help with:

Watching a curious child with a wild imagination has the power to change an adult. We know because we’ve lived it. As Albert Einstein said, “imagination is more important than knowledge...knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.” We agree. Discovery and imagination are the culmination of motor skills and cognitive skills, coming together to explore a world that’s still so new to them. Fostering discovery and imagination also promotes:

• A love for experimentation and trying new things—hello again, cognitive skills.
• Confidence that comes with trying new things and eventually getting it right.
• Creativity and the endless opportunities that come from thinking outside the box.