Episode 5

Fine Motor Skills

Rev. Dr. Natasha Francis-Campbell

October 6, 2021

Motor development includes fine and gross motor skills.

This article aims at:

• providing information about fine motor skills that will sensitise and encourage parents about activities that will foster such development.
• highlighting the relevance of  the fostering of fine motor skills development in the icons.
• engendering cooperation in the home that is multifunctional.

What are fine Motor Skills?

Fine motor skills are the ability to make movements employing the small muscles in our hands and wrist. (“Local Offer Jargon Buster”) They are developed in children as they grow.

Are Fine Motor Skills Important?

School-aged children depend on fine motor skills to master many tasks.  Some of the skills that depend on well-developed fine motor skills includes:

• Turning the pages of a book
• Colouring
• Drawing and painting
• holding pens, pens, crayons or markers
• Tracing
• Writing
• Cutting with scissors
• Pasting and gluing
• using erasers
• Measuring with a ruler
• Typing and using a computer mousepad
• Playing musical instruments

The development of fine motor skills also promotes self-help skills in children.  They will be able to perform activities including:

• pressing keypads
• turning doorknobs
• turning locks and keys
• tying shoelaces
• buttoning and unbuttoning clothes
• zipping and unzipping
• fastening snaps and buckles
• using floss
• brushing teeth
• taking a bath
• Using the toilet
• sorting items and puzzles
• using spoons and forks
• opening and closing water and juice containers
• screwing lids
• unscrewing lids
• spreading peanut butter, jam, butter, etc

Can Children have trouble with fine motor Skills?

Certainly, underdeveloped fine motor skills will pose  challenges in students completing many of the action listed above.  It can also influence academic setbacks.

This kind of struggle can be termed as developmental coordination disorder.  Underdeveloped fine motor skills can also impact the gross motor skills negatively.

Parents can facilitate the development of fine motor skill by just being a tad more intentional about the activities mentioned about and so many others that are carried out in the homes almost daily.