FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

Kimberly WardCEPD 8102-NO2

What is the importance of fine motor development?

“According to Montessori theory, the hand leads the mind.” (Stewart, Rule, & Giordano, 2007).

Predictor of the academic success in later grades.

Support children with attention difficulties.

Increase academic performance.

What are fine motor skills?

The development of the small muscle groups in the hands.

The ability to coordinate the hand and eye in order to accomplish specific tasks.

“The delicate manipulation of objects.” (Drew, 2008)

What is appropriate development of fine motor skills?

By the end of 5 years old children should be able to… Copy triangles and other geometric

patterns. Dress and undress without assistance. Use a fork, spoon, and (sometimes) a

table knife. (CDC, 2010)

What are fine motor development warning signs?

The child is unable … To build a tower of six to eight blocks. To properly grasp and control a pencil or

crayon. To cut on a line. (CDC, 2010)

What are the causes of fine motor deficits?

Birth defects. Developmental disabilities. Lack of preschool experience. Lack of experiences in the

home environment.

What are examples of birth defects and developmental disabilities?

Autism Cerebral Palsy Vision Impairment Intellectual Disabilities

What are the signs of vision impairments?

If vision impairments are present a child may… Hold a book too close to his face. Make errors when copying from the

board. Display a short attention span in reading

or copying.

How does lack of home and preschool experiences affect fine motor skills?

Large amounts of time watching television.

Little time involved in fine motor activities such as building with blocks, making puzzles, and coloring.

Children have few materials used for fine motor development.

How do fine motor activities help with attention difficulties?

Child participation in fine motor activities during the school day and manipulation of fine motor toys while completing assignments can… Produce more time on task. Produce more questions answered. Produce more questions answered correctly.

What can be done to improve fine motor development?

Children should be actively involved in activities requiring the use of the hands and eyes. Play a game of jacks or a game of toss with

a ball. Play games using tools such as

clothespins, tongs, or tweezers to pass or move objects.

Manipulate clay to create different shapes and objects.

Why should teachers be concerned with fine motor development?

Recognize warning signs for intervention. Support children with attention

difficulties. Increase academic performance. Improve life skills of children.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics (2009, November 23). Child care settings may double total TV time for

young children. Retrieved from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/pages/Child-Care-Settings-

May-Double-Total-TV-Time-For-Young-Children.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-

000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3A+No+local+token

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Developmental Disabilities. Retrieved from

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/default.htm

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Learn the signs. Act early. Retrieved from

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-5yr.html

Drew, S. (2008). Take Ten. United Kingdom: LDA Learning

Kercood, S., Grskovic, J. A., Lee, D. L., & Emmert, S. (2007). The effects of fine motor movement and tactile

stimulation on the math problem solving of students with attention problems. Journal of Behavioral

Education, 16(4), 303-310. doi:10.1007/s10864-007-9042-1

References

Luo, Z., Jose, P., Huntsinger, C., & Pigott, T. (2007). Fine motor skills and mathematics achievement

in east asian american and european american kindergartners and first graders. British Journal

of Developmental Psychology, 25(4), 595-614. doi:10.1348/026151007X185329

Grissmer, D., Grimm, K., Aiyer, S., Murrah, W., & Steele, J. (2010). Fine motor skills and early

comprehension of the world: Two new school readiness indicators. Developmental Psychology,

46(5), 1008-1017. doi:10.1037/a0020104

Stewart, R. A., Rule, A. C., & Giordano, D. A. (2007). The effect of fine motor skill activities on

kindergarten student attention. Early Childhood Education Journal, 35(2), 103-109.

doi:10.1007/s10643-007-0169-4

Santrock, J. W. (2008). Essentials of life-span development. New York: McGraw-Hill.