Does Lego strengthen fine motor skills? Dysgraphia and Lego – the facts!
Building a Strong Foundation: does Lego strengthen fine motor skills?
In the world of childhood development, Lego bricks have long been used for more than just toys. These colorful blocks have shown their worth in developing creativity and problem-solving as well as improving fine motor skills. While Lego is of course beneficial for all kids, it holds particular significance for those with dysgraphia.
If you are concerned you child has dysgraphia, you will find a list of the most common symptoms here
The Importance of Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are the building blocks of certain life skills. They enable children to grasp and manipulate objects, hold utensils and perform precise and controlled tasks. Developing these skills is essential for school success, as they are directly linked to handwriting, drawing, painting as well as many other skills.
Lego and Fine Motor Skill Development
So, how does Lego strengthen fine motor skills and help with dysgraphia?
- Precision and dexterity: As children assemble Lego bricks, they need precision to connect and align the pieces correctly. This requires dexterity and control over their fine motor movements.
- Hand-eye coordination: Lego play promotes the development of hand-eye coordination as children match the visual input of the bricks with the physical actions required to connect them. This skill is essential for tasks like handwriting and drawing.
- Spatial awareness: Building with Lego bricks enhances a child’s spatial awareness and understanding of three-dimensional concepts. This in turn improves the ability to navigate the physical world and visualize ideas – this is especially beneficial for children with dysgraphia.
- Persistence and patience: Lego construction often involves trial and error, problem-solving, and persistence. Children must try different approaches, learn from their mistakes, and be patient as completing their creations. Invaluable qualities for all children.
- Improved handwriting readiness: Playing with Lego can serve as a pre-writing exercise, preparing young children’s hands and fingers for the fine motor demands of writing. It can make the transition to writing less daunting.
- Sensory stimulation: The tactile nature of Lego bricks provides sensory stimulation, which can be calming and beneficial for younger children with dysgraphia. The sensory experience can help them feel more comfortable with fine motor activities.
- Encouragement of creativity: Lego play encourages creativity and imaginative thinking. This will lead on to exploration of alternative ways to express themselves other than writing.
Screen time vs traditional play: does Lego strengthen fine motor skills?
As a parent in the modern world, we are constantly battling with how screen time and devices impact our children and their development. Time and time again, Lego has emerged as a champion for the promotion of fine motor skills. With so much choice on the market, it’s hard to know what will capture our children’s imagination enough to win this battle. Through its hands-on, interactive nature, LEGO comes out on top. It encourages children to explore and create as well as refining their fine motor skills in an entertaining and educational way.
For generations, it has served as a foundation for life long skills. So, the next time you step on a random Lego block in bare feet, try to remember that Lego is a crucial building block for a child’s growth and development.
With so much choice around, I’ve compiled a list of our favourite Lego sets (please click on the photos or the link in the text to find out more):
The LEGO® DUPLO® Cargo Train is perfect for your toddler/young child. Suitable for children aged 2-5, the set includes a push & go motor, working lights and horn, a harbor, boat, cafe, loading station, 2 cranes, 3 DUPLO figures, a seagul and many accessories. There is also an app available for other fun activities including a remote control option. ($129.99)
Buildable People with Big Emotions offer hours of entertainment for your toddler. Straight from the off, they can create new charactrs time and time again. ($49.99)
I cannot rate this STEAM Park highly enough! Complete with 295 LEGO® DUPLO® bricks, gears, tracks, pulleys, boats, and figures. The set also comes with eught double sided idea cards with 16 different designs to build. Perfect for school or home, there is an online guide available with six steam lessons and mini tuotrial videos. ($219.95)
The T. rex Dinosaur Breakout
is a great gift for kids aged 4 and over and ideal for younger kids who have grown out of DUPLO®. Features include: An airport, helipad, garage, helicopter, buggy, collapsible fence, T.rex figure and three minifugres. ($49.99)
For fans of Gabby’s Dollhouse, this is a must! Featuring 8 rooms, it’s packed with accessories and figures. It’s the perfect next step after DUPLO®. ($79.99)
This Sports Center features soccer, basketball, tennis and climbing accessories. Perfect for budding little sports stars. With doll holders, mini versoins of the games can actually be played! ($94.99)
Perfect for role playing, the Heartlake International School set will inspire kids to create their own stories. The set includes a science lab, art room, cafeteria, media room, animal care room and outdoor sports facilities. Children will have hours of fun with all the accessories once building is coplete. Ideally aged for those 8 and above. ($99.99)
This 1,582-piece LEGO® Monkie Kid™ set includes 6 minifigures and 9 modules with functions and hidden elements. It offers hours of fun even after construction is completed. ($139.99)
No list woud be complete without the classic lego set. This Creative Party Box contains 900 pieces in multiple colours to create thousands of designs. Let you child’s imagination run wild with this must buy! ($49.99)
Despite being slightly more pricey than others on my list, I had to share Diagon Alley! Designed for slightly older kids, you will find authentic accessories and 14 familiar minifigures from the Harry Potter™ movies as well as a range of magical shops such as Ollivanders™ Wand Shop, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes™, Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor, Scribbulus™, Flourish & Blotts™ and Quality Quidditch™ Supplies. Enjoy the endless possibilities to rearrange and create brand new stories. Measuring over a meter wide it includes over 5000 pieces. ($449.99)
Please note that as an affiliate, I do receive commission from any purchase made, but this never affects my choice of product and I never list anything I do not or have not owned.
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