Developping your Child’s Fine Motor Skills with Occupational Therapy

Fine motor skills are foundational for a children’s participation and independence in daily activities, such as play, dressing, eating, and personal care. Pediatric occupational therapists specialize in addressing fine motor skill deficits with strategies tailored to each child’s specific needs. The interventions vary based on the child’s skills and how they impact participation in meaningful activities.

Difficulties with fine motor skills can have various impacts depending on a child’s age. The specific challenges children face evolves as they grow.

For example, fine motor skills in infants allow them to grasp small objects, explore their environment, and begin early stages of self-feeding. In young children, fine motor skills enable activities like dressing themselves, washing up, and completing crafts with friends. For school-aged children, these skills are crucial for academic tasks, such as handwriting (either manual or on a computer) and for manipulating small objects in activities like board games.

Does My Child Have Fine Motor Skill Difficulties?

In everyday life, challenges with fine motor skills may manifest as a lack of engagement in certain play activities (difficulty stacking blocks), reduced independence (struggling to zip a coat), clumsiness during meals (trouble using utensils), or slow performance in tasks requiring precision (trouble buttoning a shirt).

Below is a list of key fine motor milestones. If your child struggles with these skills, a consultation with an occupational therapist may be helpful. Each milestone sets the stage for the next, highlighting the importance of supporting your child’s fine motor development at every step.

Fine Motor Development Milestones:

• 1 month: Grasps objects reflexively when placed in their hand but releases them involuntarily.
• 2 months: Opens hands more frequently and with greater control.
• 4 months: Grasps objects placed in their hand, brings hands to the mouth, and supports themselves on their forearms while on their tummy.
• 6 months: Reaches for objects of interest and begins transferring objects between hands.
• 9 months: Bangs objects together and uses fingers to bring food to their mouth.
• 12 months: Places objects in containers and uses a pincer grasp (thumb and index finger).
• 15 months: Uses hands to eat and stacks at least two objects.
• 18 months: Attempts to use a spoon and starts scribbling with crayons.
• 2 years: Eats with a spoon and uses both hands for different actions (e.g., holding a bowl while scooping).
• 3 years: Uses a fork, helps with dressing, and strings beads.
• 4-5 years: Copies shapes, begins using scissors, and stabilizes paper while drawing.
• 5-6 years: Copies more complex shapes and starts copying letters, uses scissors for detailed cutting.

What happens if those difficulties aren’t addressed?

If developmental difficulties are left unaddressed, they can lead to a range of challenges that impact various aspects of a child’s life, including academics, emotions, and daily independence among other issues.

• Academic Consequences: Fine motor skills are associated in the long term with children’s overall academic performance and their abilities in reading and writing.
• Emotional and Behavioral Consequences: Frustration during motor tasks, avoidance of motor tasks, and low self-esteem.
• Consequences for Independence: Difficulties with daily self-care tasks such as dressing, brushing teeth, and eating.

What are strategies used by occupational therapists?

A variety of strategies, approaches, and activities exist to develop fine motor skills. The occupational therapist assesses which fine motor skills need to be stimulated and how they impact the performance of meaningful activities. Each intervention is therefore tailored to the child’s unique needs.

• Stimuler le développement moteur : Par exemples, des exercices de motricité fine qui vise la stimulation d’habiletés motrices précises (prise pouce index, force, manipulation dans la main, coordination)
• Approches sensori motrices : Par exemple pour l’écriture, mobiliser tous les sens de l’enfant dans l’apprentissage du tracé des lettres. 
• Mise en situation selon les difficultés au quotidien : Par exemple, pratiquer l’habillage et trouver des stratégies d’adaptation ou de compensation selon les habiletés observées. 

Sample Therapy Goals

Therapy goals can be diverse and specific, including:

• My child will colour within a square without going outside the lines.
• My child will cut out a circle without deviating from the line.
• My child will complete a 3-step craft project without any help.
• My child will write all the letters of the alphabet on a single line.
• My child will write a 5-line text while maintaining proper letter proportions.
• My child will put on and tie their shoes independently.
• My child will use a fork and knife to cut their food without assistance.

Therapy Example

For a child who loves a popular cartoon and is working on coloring (pencil control), cutting (paper handling), and hand strength, a session might involve coloring a character from the show, cutting it out, and pasting it onto a craft project creating a “ticket”. These “tickets” can then be used for special activities during the session. To redeem his ticket, the child could then use a hole puncher (for hand strength).

Potential Benefits of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy can significantly improve fine motor skills, but the benefits extend beyond that. Children often see increases in self-esteem, in independence, and in academic performance.

What Can You Do While Waiting for an Assessment?

Here are some activities to help boost your child’s fine motor skills you can do on your own:

• Pincer Grip Practice: Place snacks in an ice cube tray and have your child pick them up using a pincer grasp.
• Thumb Mobility: Play thumb war games.
• Introduction to Cutting: Start with easy-to-cut materials like playdough or cheese to build interest and skills.
• Pencil Grip: Offer different types of crayons when your child starts to show an interest in drawing activities.
• Learning Letters: Write letters in various contexts, such as in sand, snow, or on a foggy window.
• Writing Speed: Play writing races by having your child write a word as many times as possible within a time limit.
• Display Their Work: Showcase their crafts or drawings on windows or by sending postcards to family members.

Next Steps

Fine motor skills are crucial for children’s independence in daily activities. If you notice difficulties with any of the developmental milestones mentioned, consulting an occupational therapist can be beneficial. Tailored assessments and targeted interventions will help your child make progress and gain confidence.

Sources :

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