Fine motor skills include movements related to smaller muscle groups in hands, fingers, and wrists. Also, fine motor skills refer to the coordination between small muscles of hands and fingers with the eyes (dexterity). These skills are important because they help children perform a variety of activities such as writing, eating, holding small objects, buttoning, etc.

Around their first birthday, most kids can reach, grab, and put objects in their mouths, drop and pick up toys, bang two objects together, and hold their own bottle or cup. Also, your one-year-old can now eat with the spoon and fork and help undress. Most kids 12 mounts old can put items in containers with large openings and take them out and pinch small objects like stickers or pom-poms with thumb and pointer finger.

 

Why are Fine Motor Skills Important?

Fine motor skills are essential for most school activities but these skills are important in life in general. Delays in fine motor skills can affect the child’s ability to perform the basic activities of daily living such as eating, dressing himself or herself, or grooming. Also, if your child lags in fine motor skills development, this may affect her ability to write, turn pages in books, or use a computer.

Some kids struggle with their fine motor skills development because these skills require more precise movements of small muscles, more control, and better coordination.

 

How to Use Coloring to Boost Fine Motor Skills?

Your child needs to master fine motor control when he or she starts school because this skill is crucial for writing. To help kids improve their fine motor skills, encourage art and craft activities.

Young children enjoy discovering art through coloring. Kids are naturally curious and love to experiment with colors, materials, and textures. Make sure to provide safe, non-toxic art supplies such as crayons, markers, gel pens, and glitter gel pens, colored pencils, and brushes.

Encourage your child to paint and draw. These activities not only promote fine motor skills development but also encourage cognitive abilities, creativity, and imagination.

Different types of painting and different coloring supplies like chalk, charcoal, finger painting, or puff paint will spark your child’s interests and curiosity and strengthen his hand-eye coordination.

Another great art activity for toddlers and older kids is an easel-coloring or painting. A standing easel toy promotes fine motor skills by strengthening your child’s wrist and developing fine motor of her fingers. In addition, this activity encourages gross motor skills as the child is required to stand while painting.

Coloring with crayons, markers, or colored pencils helps kids learn to gain greater control holding things with their hands, which is essential for writing and, consequently, school success.

Your child’s drawings and illustrations don’t have to be perfect. Scribbling is enough to practice fine motor skills. however, make sure to display your child’s artwork around the house; this will boost his self-esteem and confidence and make your child proud of himself.

Take care and keep healthy and positive,

MyFirstApp Team