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Fine motor skill refers to the ability of the muscles and joints of the upper extremities and hands to work together with the nervous system to perform tasks with accuracy. These skills are very important when performing activities required for success at school and within your child’s daily life. Postural Stability, Tactile Perception, Grasp development, Hand function and Bilateral Coordination (using both sides of the body) play a huge part in the development of fine motor skills acquisition. Some of the tasks that require fine motor skills include:
Self-care - Dressing, buttoning, zipping, snapping, tying shoes, brushing teeth, pouring, opening packages, using utensils etc.
Classroom tasks- Coloring, cutting with scissors, tracing shapes and lines, writing, drawing, folding, manipulating small objects, assembling projects, sharpening a pencil.
ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP FINE MOTOR SKILLS:
Picking just a few of these activities to do each week can improve your students Fine Motor Skills.
- Play Doh
- Roll Play Doh snakes to make letters, numbers and shapes.
- Use scissors to cut the Play Doh “snakes.”
- Make your own Play-Doh! https://www.familyeducation.com/fun/playdough/6-homemade-playdough-recipes
- Coloring activities-encourage your child to use a proper three finger grasp.
- Finger-Plays and songs- these will help develop isolation and control of each finger and strengthen muscles in the hand.
- Lite Brite- Working on a vertical surface improves and develops the strength and dexterity of the muscles and joints of the hand.
- Games with small pieces.
- Card games such as Uno and Go Fish- Card games are a wonderful way to practice grasping and manipulation of objects. Card games also help children use visual skills, turn taking, and critical thinking and sequencing
- Lacing activities- Simple lacing activities improve motor planning, strength, fingertip grasping and hand -eye ( visual motor ) coordination
- Writing on a vertical surface- Using a chalkboard or easel
- Using stamps
- Building toys- such as K-nex, Legos, Snap beads- keep designs simple and at a level that your child can complete easily
- Playing with blocks and Dominoes- create a simple design and have your child copy it. Make a design for Dominoes by placing lines on a sheet of paper and have your child stand the Dominoes on edge on the lines. Kids love to knock it over! This encourages the ability to grade the force movement.
- Painting- especially on an easel or vertical surface
- Origami- keep it simple and fun!
- Pipe-cleaner Art
- Wind up toys
- Sticker collections
- Craft activities
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