Chapter 11 Fine Motor and Manipulatives “In an early care and education classroom, the fine motor...

Chapter 11Fine Motor and Manipulatives

“In an early care and education classroom, the fine motor and manipulatives area probably includes a larger variety of activities and materials than any other center.”©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Fine Motor and Manipulative Play Defined Fine motor movements are the small

movements that occur in the hands, wrists, fingers, feet, toes, lips, and tongue The smaller actions involved in picking up

objects between the thumb and finger, using a pencil to write carefully, holding a fork and using it to eat

Fine motor skill is defined as the coordination of small muscle movements that occur in body parts such as the fingers, usually in coordination with the eyes

©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Pre-Writing Hand Skills

Pincer grasp: Using thumb and index finger to pick up an item

Grasping and squeezing Bilateral coordination: Using both hands

together to perform a task Eye-hand coordination: Focusing and

coordinating eye movement and visual input to control and direct the hands

Wrist rotation and wrist stability Finger dexterity: Ability to move individual

fingers in isolation©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Infant & Toddler Fine Motor Development Infants

Pre-reachingNewborn

Mitten grasp 3-4 months

Hand to hand4-5 months

Pincer grasp 9 months

Toddlers Fills & Dumps Works simple

puzzles Turns knobs

and switches Flushes toilet Scribbles Points


Preschool Fine Motor Skills Dressing

2-3 years Puts on and

removes Zips

3-4 years Buttons

4-5 years Dresses by

self

Feeding 2-3 years

Uses spoon3-4 years

Serves self4-5 years

Uses fork5-6 years

Uses knife on soft food


Other Preschool Skills 2-3 years: Opens door,

strings beads 3-4 years: Uses

scissors, copies line and circle

4-5 years: Cuts on a line, copies triangle, cross and some letters

5-6 years: Ties shoes, draws six part person


Primary-School-Aged Small Motor Skills Dramatic improvements with handwriting

and ability to write in cursive letters Can draw complex and detailed pictures that

incorporate depth cues and 3-D elements Become capable of detail-oriented craft

projects involving beading, sewing, scrap booking, and building models

Are good at using simple tools such as a hammer or a hand mixer

Become skillful at playing games involving eye-hand coordination


Planning and Preparingthe Environment Fine motor skills are

developed in many learning centers of the early childhood classroom Art

Sensory

Blocks

Woodworking

Dramatic play

Library


Manipulative Center Located in a quiet, uninterrupted area Is well lit, preferably with natural light Contains low, open shelves for materials Includes labeled tubs or baskets to hold

materials needed for a specific activity Provides both horizontal and vertical

surfaces Contains a variety of engaging materials

and high quality tools Contains materials for four to six

children to have several choices each


Materials to Build Fine Motor Skills Play dough with a

pizza cutter and mini rolling pin

Spin tops Locks and keys Hole punches Wind-up toys Peg games Tweezers

Tongs Squeeze balls Squeeze squirters Chinese yo-yo’s Putty or dough with

beads and buttons Puzzles These materials do

not include pencils and worksheets!


More Fine Motor Materials Legos® Colored cubes Interlocking links Parquetry blocks Cuisenaire rods Lacing cards Alphabet bingo Card games Board games


Fine Motor Play for Infants Use a pincer grasp to take objects out and put them in a container

Poke a button that causes something to pop-up or spin

Fill a bucket with toys or soft blocks to reach in and take out and then place back in the bucket

Make shape sorters from recycled containers with plastic lids

Fill a recycled wipe container with scarves to pull out Give older infants a thick crayon to scribble with, or

a stubby brush to paint with


Fine Motor Play for Toddlers Build a tower with up to six blocks Press together manipulative pieces String big beads on a thick shoelace Lift and turn pages of thick board

books Use crayons to color and draw Paint with nontoxic shaving cream Paint with brushes or fingers Introduce low easels to provide a

vertical surface for making marks


Fine Motor Play for Preschoolers Children should have strength and dexterity in

their hands and fingers before being asked to manipulate a pencil on paper Working on dexterity and strength can eliminate

the development of an inappropriate pencil grasp Becoming more commonplace as children are

engaged in writing experiences before their hands are ready

Use manipulatives, implements, and tools found in various learning centers to support fine motor development


Manipulative Center Play Turn over cards, coins, checkers, or buttons without bringing them to the edge of the table

Pick out small objects from a tray of sand Play connect the dots

Encourage children to connect dots from left to right and from top to bottom

Trace around stencils Use small-sized screwdrivers Tie knots in string Pick up cotton balls or small pieces of fabric with

clothespins


Cross Midline for Brain Development Encourage reaching across the body for

materials with each hand You may need to engage the other hand

in an activity to prevent child from switching hands at midline

Refrain from discouraging a child from using the left hand for any activity Allow the natural development of hand

dominance by presenting activities at midline and allowing the child to choose


Cross Midline for Brain Development Start making the child aware of the left

and right sides of his or her body through spontaneous comments such as “kick the ball with your right leg”

Play imitation posture games such as “Simon Says” with across the body movements

When painting at an easel, encourage the child to paint a continuous line across the entire paper and also from diagonal to diagonal


Hand Skill Development Encourage appropriate hand skill

development Minimize passive entertainment

usage such as video games as these do not build efficient pencil grasp patterns


Vertical Surface and Fine Motor Development A vertical surface is the natural and

preferred plane to play for young children Best supports hand skill development of

young children in three ways Engages the shoulder against gravity,

which promotes the development of the hand and arm for writing

Encourages an extended wrist position needed for writing

Most appropriate visually for young children


Vertical Surfaces & Activities


Rip, Snip, Cut Sequence for scissor skill development Mastery of the each step will lead to

improved scissor use for complex patterns in the long run Rip: Start with ripping paper (use scraps

for mosaic art projects) Snip: Use scissors to snip play dough,

straws, grass, index cards Cut: Cut along short (1 inch) bolded

straight lines on strips of thick paper progressing gradually to longer, thinner straight lines on thinner types of paper


Rip, Snip, Cut Practice cutting along curves with paper

plates after straight lines are mastered Cutting on angles is usually performed

competently by 1st or 2nd grade.


Fine Motor Play for Primary-School-Aged Children Tear tissue paper into strips by placing

both hands on the top of each sheet and pulling in opposite directions Once the sheet of tissue is in strips, have

the child try to crumple it into a ball using just the fingers of one hand

Have the children practice drawing a line from the top to the bottom of a large piece of paper taped to a vertical surface such as an easel or wall


Fine Motor Play for Primary-School-Aged Children (continued) Move small items from one container to

another using tweezers or a clothespin Include materials such as peg boards,

lacing cards and Legos® in your manipulative center

In your writing center, provide the children with a variety of stencils to trace and implements of various sizes


Fine Motor Art Play for Primary Aged Children Have the children use their fingers to make

their artistic creations in finger paint After finishing, place a piece of construction

paper of a different color than the paint over the child’s work

Have the child press the paper down and pull up a print of the painting

Give them a sponge to wipe away the paint left on the table in a side to side motion, encouraging them to use their arms and wrists while keeping their shoulder still


Fine Motor Sensory Play Mold and roll play dough into balls using

the palms of the hands facing each other and with fingers curled slightly toward the palm Or roll play dough into tiny balls using only

the finger tips

Use pegs or toothpicks to make designs in play dough Cut play dough with a plastic knife or

pizza wheel by holding in a diagonal grasp


Fine Motor Sensory Play (continued)

Scrunch up one sheet of newspaper in one hand

Use a plant sprayer to spray plants or spray shaving cream with food coloring and water

Catch bubbles between hands by clapping Draw in wet sand, salt, rice, or “goop” Reach for objects under water Pour water or sand from one container to

another Use a turkey baster in water play


Using Art to Develop Fine Motor Skills

Tear newspaper into strips and then crumple them into balls

Use eye droppers in colored water for color mixing or to make artistic designs on paper or coffee filters

Spray paintings with water in a small spray bottle to create a “rained on” effect

Use spray bottles to paint a mural on butcher paper attached to the wall outside


Using Art to Develop Fine Motor Skills (continued)

Paint at an easel Roll small balls of tissue paper and glue

them onto construction paper to form pictures or designs

Tear and glue colored tissue to create a “stained glass window” on waxed paper

Make pictures using stickers or self-sticking paper reinforcements


Fine Motor in Dramatic Play Play games with the “puppet fingers”

The thumb, index, and middle fingers

Put on dress up clothes using buttons, zippers, and snaps

Use puppets to act out stories Stir pretend food while cooking Pick up and hold pots and pans to

“cook”


Using Manipulatives in Math Distinguishing

patterns Recognizing

geometric shapes Measuring Exploring and

describing spatial relationships

Communicating mathematical ideas effectively

Identifying and describing different types of symmetry

Developing and using spatial memory

Learning about and experimenting with transformations

Engaging in problem solving


Diversity in Fine Motorand Manipulative Play

Multicultural materials Nesting dolls from

Russia Worry dolls from

Guatemala Fans and chopsticks

from Japan Molcajete from

Mexico Mancala game from

Africa

Multicultural activities Make stamped

cookies from Sweden or Belgium

Make cascarones out of egg shells and confetti to break on people’s heads at carnival time

Make origami sculptures


Supporting Each and Every Child’s Success Encourage children to attempt buttons,

zippers, and snaps, giving them only as much assistance as needed

Block distractions by placing the manipulative table facing a shelf or make partitions out of laminated file folders or three-section display boards cut in half

Define play spaces by putting materials on individual trays, cookie sheets, tubs or small throw rugs on the floor


Supporting Each and Every Child’s Success (continued)

Create a nonslip workspace by putting down rubbery shelf liner material

Provide a small container to put manipulative pieces in next to the puzzle or game while working to decrease clutter

Use manipulatives on the floor and well as the table


Creating Partnerships with Families

Sorting socks Tearing paper Cutting with

scissors Tracing Stapling paper Punching holes

Wringing out sponges

Sewing and lacing

Stringing beads

Performing finger plays

Clapping©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

There are lots of activities parents can do at home to develop their child’s fine motor skills using common household items

The Teacher’s Role Teachers build the

foundation required to help children become proficient in fine motor skills, which are needed for proper growth

Important for teachers to create activities that captivate children’s interest and keep them engaged in learning


Guidance Guidelines Start with simpler fine motor

activities to build strength in the fingers and wrists while developing eye-hand coordination

It is important for teachers to remember that development takes place at different times in children

Patience, understanding, and positive reinforcement help when developing fine motor skills


Guidance Guidelines (continued) Allowing children access to

manipulative materials at all times during child initiated play encourages them to be creative

They will be able to practice fine motor skill development without having to follow a guided activity


Teaching Tips Offer a range of opportunities to

practice developing fine motor skills Use various of materials for drawing,

painting, and writing Break fine motor skills into sequenced

steps Explicitly teach a new skill Built skills on the previously mastered

skills


Model Appropriate Language Talk about what you are doing as you

demonstrate new skills Positively recognize effort

“You were very careful when you cut around the circle.”

Discuss how to do tasks “Put the scissors on the edge of the paper.”

Sequence the action through descriptive language “Hold the scissors in your cutting hand,

open them, put them on top of the cutting line, close them.”


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