How to Use Fine Motor Skills

Fine Motor Skills and the Hands.

Fine motor skills are used everyday. The development of these skills refers to the small muscle movements of the hands, fingers, feet, toes, lips and tongue. These movements also involve the eyes. Sight is needed for eye-hand coordination. Fine motor skills do not develop immediately. With time and practice, you learn to display good dexterity and movement. Young children are thought of when evaluating fine motor skills, but adults may be needed to redevelop these skills as well, especially after a stroke, or other neurological or physical disability.

Things You'll Need

• Modeling compound or clay
• Paper
• Markers, crayons, pencils
• Building blocks, puzzles, beads, etc.
• Scissors
• Household or clothing items to manipulate

Instructions

1. 

   A modeling compound, like Play Doh, or clay is an excellent tool for hand dexterity. Strengthening the hands is necessary for writing and cutting skills at a later time. The kneading of the clay, for example, works the hands and fingers.

2. 

   Tracing and coloring helps with eye-hand coordination. Use a black marker to trace around objects or templates on paper. Coloring inside the lines is a goal for this exercise. Freehand drawing is necessary for pre-writing skills. Practice drawing circles, vertical and horizontal lines, zigzag and so on.

3. 

   Play with easily manipulated items. Fine motor development can be enhanced when playing with building blocks, stringing beads, and puzzles. Even a computer keyboard and mouse will allow finger dexterity to develop along with eye-hand coordination.

4. 

   Cutting paper can build fine motor skills. Start by cutting strips to make paper chains and progress to cutting on angled lines or shapes. Next, try folding paper and cutting designs to make a paper snowflake.

5. 

   Self-care skills are also considered fine motor skills. Practice buttoning, lacing, tying, zipping and fastening snaps on garments. Housekeeping chores, such as washing dishes, opening and closing jars, winding a clock and rolling out cooking dough all help to develop small muscles.

Tips & Warnings

• Even intern and resident doctors have been playing video games on the Nintendo Wii to help enhance the development of their fine motor skills. This helps their performance on surgery simulators.

References

• Introducing Your Child to the Joy of Learning; Earladeen Badger; 1981

Resources

• Tips for Improving Fine Motor Skills
• Fine Motor Skills