Fine motor skills involve the use of the smaller muscle of the hands, such as when doing up buttons, opening lunch boxes or using pencils or scissors. Fine motor skill efficiency significantly influences the quality of the task outcome as well as the speed of task performance. Efficient fine motor skills require a number of independent skills to occur simultaneously to appropriately manipulate the object or perform the task.
Fine motor skills are essential for performing everyday skills like self care tasks (e.g. clothing fastenings, opening lunch boxes, cleaning teeth, using cutlery) and academic skills (e.g. pencil skills of drawing, writing and colouring, as well as cutting and pasting). Without the ability to complete these every day tasks, a child’s self esteem can suffer and their academic performance is compromised. They may also be unable to develop appropriate independence in life skills (such as getting dressed and feeding themselves).
If a child has difficulties with fine motor skills they might:
When a child has fine motor skill difficulties, they might also have difficulties with:
Therapeutic intervention for a child with fine motor skills difficulties is important to:
When a child has difficulties with fine motor shills, they might also have difficulties with:
If your child has difficulties with fine motor skills, it is recommended they consult an Occupational Therapist.
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