Fine motor skills involve the use of the smaller muscle of the hands, commonly in activities like using pencils, scissors, construction with lego, doing up buttons and opening lunch boxes. Efficient fine motor skills require a number of independent skills to work together to appropriately manipulate the object or perform the task. Keep reading to find out how fine motor skills emerge (and at approximately what age), and the games you could play to encourage skill development.
Building blocks for fine motor skills
Developing the necessary postural stability and visual motor skills that underpin fine motor skills of the hands
Developing the necessary gross motor skills that are the precursors to fine motor skills of the hands, and improving hand-eye coordination
Successfully completing everyday tasks such as buttoning clothes and using tools with ease
Toddlers
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Pull up a large zipper
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Scribble or paint using the whole arm
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Turn the pages of a book singly
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Hold a crayon using the thumb and first two fingers
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Draw straight lines and circles
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Pour a glass of water.
Activities
See what activities can help to support this core skill.