Fine Motor Skills

WHAT ARE FINE MOTOR SKILLS AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?

Fine motor skills are the essential everyday skills that allow a child to successfully perform activities such as using a pencil, cutting with scissors, doing up laces, zips and buttons, ‘posting’ small items into slots, construction using Duplo or Lego, shaping playdough and opening containers.

They involve the use of the smaller muscle of the hands, and these muscles need to be developed through play in order to perform expected fine motor functions.  Fine motor skill proficiency has a huge impact on the quality and speed of the task outcome.  A child with poor fine motor skills will be limited and compromised in their play skills, their life skills and their academic performance, all of which may also affect their confidence and self-esteem, and their social interactions and relationships with their peers and their families.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD IS EXPERIENCING FINE MOTOR DIFFICULTIES?

Children with fine motor difficulties may:

• Avoid or refuse fiddly finger skills such as the craft activities offered at day-care and preschool
• Prefer ‘gross motor’ active play rather than desktop activities
• Show a lack of interest in pencils and craft supplies
• Show frustration, give up easily or otherwise show deterioration in behaviour if faced with a challenging fine motor task
• Wait for others to complete or help them with tasks such as cleaning teeth
• Be identified by carers, teachers or other professionals as having difficulties

We offer assessment and therapy to address fine motor difficulties. Contact us today to chat to us about your concerns and make an appointment.