“Never give the mind what you can give the hand.” ~ Maria Montessori
Key Concepts:
● Fine motor muscles refer to the coordination of the small muscles in your child’s hands, wrist, and fingers that work in conjunction with their eyes. Fine motor skills are essential for performing daily tasks and fundamental to your child’s development and are an important academic skill, too.
● There’s a plethora of research on fine motor skills that has highlighted the critical role it plays in a child's development, including cognitive, social, and academic outcomes.
● Like anything in your child’s development, it’s important to be aware of how your child is progressing. If you find yourself concerned with how your child is doing, it’s important to identify and seek support earlier rather than later.
● Early intervention refers to timely services and support to children who exhibit developmental delays in certain areas.
What to Do:
● Shape Sorters: Use shape sorter toys to help with hand-eye coordination and problem-solving. This requires your child to pick up a shape and place it into a box.
● Building Blocks: Stacking and connecting blocks improve hand strength and coordination. Start with larger blocks that are easier for your child to grasp and slowly move to smaller ones.
● Drawing and Scribbling: Provide large crayons or markers for drawing on paper. Tip: Tape the paper down to the ground or the table so it’s not moving all over the place as your little one draws. You can also get a roll of butcher paper and have your child sit on top to be able to draw in all directions.
● Play Dough: Squishing, rolling, and molding play dough strengthens hand muscles. It’s fun to add tools and manipulatives (like blocks or little farm animals) to this.
● Finger Painting: Messy and FUN. Encourages creative expression and fine motor control. Model how to use one finger at a time. You can also use dot paint to help your child practice holding the bottle and pushing down to make a mark.
● Read: Make sure that books are accessible so your little one can pull them off the shelf and “read.” Turning the pages requires fine motor skills and control, so this is great practice.
● Sensory Play: Fill a big plastic bin with a safe food like rice, beans, or sand and give your child some shovels. This can help children practice scooping, pouring, and grasping.