Early Childhood Special Education/Special Transition Education Program
Fine Motor Skills
Why do we needfine motor skills?
Pick up small items
Develop a mature pencil grasp for handwriting
Manipulate buttons and zippers
Give us independence with daily tasks!
Hand Development
The x-ray on the far left is the hand of a 3 year old and the x-ray on the right is the hand of a 7 year old. A 3 year old has not developed all of their hand bones a as much as a 7 year old. Hand development happens in young children when they use their hands to feed themselves, build, play with toys, draw, and color.
Hand Separation Skills
The hand has an invisible line that runs between the middle and ring finger that divides the hand into 2 zones. The thumb, index, and middle finger make up the skilled side of the hand. The ring finger and pinky finger make up the stabilizing side of the hand. The skilled side of the hand is what we use to hold a pencil, cut with scissors, spin a top, turn a key, open a bottle lid, wind up a toy, string beads, and squeeze tongs. Encourage your child to play with toys like tops, beads, blocks, and playdough to develop the small side of the hand.
Web Space
The web space is the area between the thumb and index finger. The muscles of the web space help you form the "OK" sign. When you use tongs, pinch playdough, or cut with scissors you are helping strengthen the web space.