Fine Motor Skills

Fine Motor skills are developed through practice and working small muscles in hands. These skills are necessary to work so your child can do things like dress and feed themselves, tie shoes, brush teeth and eventually use scissors and write with a pencil. Some doctors says children today have fine motor weaknesses due to more issues like tv watching. Although, I will argue that some systems like the Wii are helping kids to develop these very skills.

6 months+- you can start letting your child grab at food like puffs to practice "raking" motion and eye/hand coordination.


11 mo+- use egg crate to help child use index finger and thumb "pincer grasp."


Stacking cups and pulling them apart- let them try as soon as they can sit up and start grabbing at objects.


1 yr+- putting clothespin into bottle and dumping back out.


2 yr+- using turkey baster with water, scooping and pouring. Can also be used with uncooked rice or beans.


1 1/2+-large piece puzzles as soon as they become interested in trying to put them in place and don't put in mouth.


Practice with large crayons, chalk, large paintbrushes.


3 yr+- trying out scissors as well as using a fat pencil to trace name.