Fine Motor Development

Hi! Welcome to another installment of the Alexis and Ingrid Show!

One of my answers to my essential question, what is the most important skill a child develops in preschool that helps them best excel in kindergarten?, was fine motor skills.

So for this installment I will be talking a little more about what they are, how they affect children, and how educators can help improve them. I came across this PDF when doing one of my research checks. It was created by a school readiness program and they talk about what a child needs in order to be ready for early education programs. 

According to the article "...fine motor skills are those skills that require the small muscles of the hand to work together to perform precise and refined movements." Fine motor skills typically develop in a consistent manner throughout the early years of childhood. Unless affected by an outside force, most children's fine motor skills are developed enough by the time they enter formal schooling and as they practice on them they tend to continue developing and improving smoothly.

For some children, their hands do not seem to work together in the way that they should which may lead to frustration that they may resist activities that require them to coordinate all of the muscles and joints in their hands and fingers. As a result they may get behind on this developmental milestone and develop future problems. Because of this, it is highly important for teachers to be able to identify when children are at most risk for fine motor weakness and be able to incorporate activities that specifically works on enhancing this skill.

With help and encouragement children tend to improve significantly and continue building upon their newly acquired skill.