Fine Motor Skills in Children
The ability to write, draw, play instruments and type on a computer are all dependent on the development of a set of skills known as fine motor skills. These skills are developed early on in childhood and grow more and more precise with constant and continued practice as children grow into adulthood.
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Definition
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Fine motor skills are coordinated movements of the small muscles in the hands and fingers that allow for finger manipulations, dexterity and the use of tools such as pencilsand scissors. These skills, though seemingly simple for adults, actually require a combination of hand stability, muscle tone, balance, strength, hand-eye coordination and practice to accomplish successfully.
Development of Fine Motor Skills
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Development of fine motor skills is a long process, starting with the first basic movements, known as involuntary movements or reflexes that children are born able to perform. These reflexes quickly develop into voluntary movements within months of birth and begin the gross motor developments such as being able to kick and swing arms at will. Gross motor skills progress, strengthening the large muscles in the torso, arms and legs as the child begins to crawl then walk and run. These developments take place in a head-to-toe, nearer-to-farther pattern that is linked to the development of the brain and nervous system. It is not until about age 3 that the muscles and nerve pathways have developed enough for the first developments in fine motor skills, which begin with such things as being able to hold a crayon and scribble.
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Examples of Fine Motor Skills
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Fine motor skills can be seen in the ability to use a pen or pencil to write and draw, as well as in the ability to use scissors to cut out a pattern. Children in school use fine motor skills daily in these activities as well as in buttoning jackets, tying shoes and manipulating small objects, such as puzzle pieces.
Delayed Fine Motor Skills
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Some children are delayed in the development of fine motor skills because of neurological disorders or physical handicaps. These special needs children are often set up with activities and provided with assistance in developing these skills. While some children may only develop the most basic of fine motor skills, others, once provided with special training, are able to match other children in these skills
Ways to Improve Motor Skills
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Teachers and parents can help children to improve fine motor skills with activities that provide practice for dexterity and coordination as well as creativity. One activity for practicing these skills is knitting, which can be taught to children and used to improve hand strength, dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Playing with play dough or modeling clay can also be used as practice, allowing children to not only have fun put practice using small hand and finger movements. Finger plays, weaving, games such as "pick-up-sticks" and typing on a keyboard are just some more examples of ways children can practice fine motor skills.
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References
- Photo Credit writing image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
