Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills refer to the use of small muscles in the fingers and hands that are responsible for exploring and manipulating objects. These skills are essential for helping kids eat, drink, dress themselves, draw, write, build and play. Activities include doing up buttons, using scissors, brushing their teeth and opening lunchboxes. As children grow, they will develop strength and dexterity to perform more complex tasks.

Children with fine motor difficulties may present with:

• Avoidance of fine motor tasks

• No identified dominant hand

• Reduced strength and poor control in the hands

• Poor coordination or unable to use both hands together

• Reduced independence with self-care tasks and requesting others to help them constantly

• Poor prewriting, drawing and writing skills