About Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are the manner in which we use our fingers, hands, and arms. They include reaching, grasping, manipulating objects and using different tools like crayons, pencils and scissors. But because different tasks such as printing, colouring and cutting are not emphasized until preschool age, fine motor skill development is frequently overlooked when the child is an infant or toddler.
The most important mechanical tools that children bring to school are their hands. Hand skills are critical for early childhood learning. Refined hand skills are needed to master printing, a major occupation of school aged children. Hands manipulate the environment to learn.
Is your child is experiencing difficulty with any of the following?
Learning to print your letters and numbers can be very stressful for children. Yet, it is the main academic focus for them during the early elementary years in school. Studies have proven that at least 10 to 30 percent of elementary children struggle with handwriting (Karlsdottir & Stephansson, 2002).
When children have difficulty forming their letters and numbers, they become very frustrated. This can lead to a general dislike for school, low self-esteem, and behavioral problems in the classroom which can affect their academic progress. The ability to express themselves, along with their spelling and math skills will suffer.
Handwriting remains the primary tool of communication and assessment of knowledge in the classroom. I believe that treatment can be instrumental to the well-being of a child who faces challenges with these everyday fine motor skills (printing, cutting, coloring, tracing, etc.). Easy take home recommendations and practical tools will be provided to promote the child’s academic performance and to promote their overall growth.
The most important mechanical tools that children bring to school are their hands. Hand skills are critical for early childhood learning. Refined hand skills are needed to master printing, a major occupation of school aged children. Hands manipulate the environment to learn.
Is your child is experiencing difficulty with any of the following?
- Struggles with tracing and/or copying basic shapes and letters, handwriting, drawing, colouring or scissor skills;
- Demonstrates an awkward pencil grasp;
- Keeps switching hands and has not yet developed a dominant hand;
- Struggles with block construction or puzzle assembly;
- Appears floppy and weak when sitting and tires easily.
Learning to print your letters and numbers can be very stressful for children. Yet, it is the main academic focus for them during the early elementary years in school. Studies have proven that at least 10 to 30 percent of elementary children struggle with handwriting (Karlsdottir & Stephansson, 2002).
When children have difficulty forming their letters and numbers, they become very frustrated. This can lead to a general dislike for school, low self-esteem, and behavioral problems in the classroom which can affect their academic progress. The ability to express themselves, along with their spelling and math skills will suffer.
Handwriting remains the primary tool of communication and assessment of knowledge in the classroom. I believe that treatment can be instrumental to the well-being of a child who faces challenges with these everyday fine motor skills (printing, cutting, coloring, tracing, etc.). Easy take home recommendations and practical tools will be provided to promote the child’s academic performance and to promote their overall growth.