You may have heard of them before, but what are Fine Motor Skills?
Well, in simple terms, having fine motor skills means you can use the small muscles in your hands and wrists to make movements. As humans, we use these skills to do daily tasks at school, work, home and anywhere really.
But these little movements come naturally to us, right? Well, to most people they do. But fine motor skills are complex and require fine motor control which is a co-ordination between the muscles and the brain.
They are the small actions that help us make the bigger movements, like running or jumping.
Here are some examples of when we use fine motor skills:
- Holding a pen or pencil
- Drawing and writing neatly
- Using a keyboard
- Using scissors, rulers and other tools
- Getting dressed
- Brushing teeth
Fine motor skills are also needed for cooking and eating, like picking up small foods like raisins, eating with a knife and fork or opening and closing containers like lunch boxes and zip-top bags.
Children develop their fine motor skills at their own pace. Some learn to hold a pencil earlier or later than others and that’s OK. Everyone’s different. But if you don’t think your child is reaching the milestones for their age group, talk to your GP and see a specialist as soon as you can into their development.
Please Note: This blog is for information only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See a qualified healthcare professional for personal advice.
About Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills means the ability to make precise movements with the hands and fingers which are used for daily activities like writing, dressing and feeding oneself. These skills are vital for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as they impact their daily life activities and overall independence.
Fine motor skills involve the co-ordination of small muscles in the hands, fingers and wrists to make tasks that require precision and dexterity. These skills are important for academic performance as they are needed for writing, drawing and using utensils. Fine motor skills are also important for daily living activities like dressing, grooming and feeding oneself.
Understanding fine motor skills is key to identifying and addressing motor difficulties in ASD. By knowing the importance of fine motor skills, parents, carers and healthcare professionals can provide targeted interventions and support to help individuals with ASD develop these skills.
Motor Skill Development
Infancy to Adulthood
Motor skill development is a complex process that starts in infancy and continues through childhood and adolescence. Infants as young as 6 months start to develop fine motor skills like grasping and manipulating objects. As children grow and develop their fine motor skills become more refined and they can do more complex tasks.
In childhood fine motor skills continue to develop and mature, children learn to use utensils, dress themselves and do activities that require hand-eye co-ordination and dexterity. Adolescents and adults refine their fine motor skills and develop more precision and control over their movements.
In ASD motor skill development may be delayed or impaired and fine motor skills can be difficult. But with targeted interventions and support individuals with ASD can develop and refine their fine motor skills and be more independent and participate in daily activities.
Gross Motor Skills vs Fine Motor Skills
Differences and Links
Gross motor skills and fine motor skills are two different types of motor skills used for daily living. Gross motor skills means the ability to control and co-ordinate large muscle groups like walking, running and jumping. Fine motor skills means the co-ordination of small muscles in the hands, fingers and wrists.
Gross motor skills and fine motor skills are distinct but linked. For example gross motor skills provide the foundation for fine motor skills as they enable individuals to maintain posture and balance which is necessary for fine motor tasks.
In ASD gross motor difficulties can affect fine motor skills and fine motor difficulties can affect gross motor skills. Knowing the link between gross motor skills and fine motor skills is key to providing targeted interventions and support to individuals with ASD.
Please Note: The content of this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized guidance tailored to your specific situation.
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