Why is fine motor important?
Children rely on fine motor skills to complete activities at school and in their everyday lives and continue to do so throughout their lifetime. Fine motor skills are used during self care (brushing teeth, buttoning, zipping), drawing, writing, dressing, feeding, opening containers, holding utensils and so much more! We are able to complete these tasks due to the small muscles in our hands and wrists but sometimes these muscles need to get stronger in order to be successful at their job.
What causes fine motor delay?
Some children’s muscles develop slower and will reach milestones later than others. However, some children have coordination or neurological deficits such as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). In simple terms, the brain and muscles have trouble talking to each other to get the job done.
Signs of delay:
- Children who frequently change their grasp during eating or coloring may have poor fine motor development.
- Additionally, children will often complain of their hand hurting after coloring or writing and sometimes children will use light or heavy pressure with a pencil to compensate.
- Sometimes, these difficulties can lead to task avoidance or becoming upset and frustrated when having to perform these tasks.
Click HERE to learn more about Fine Motor Developmental Milestones from Birth-5!
Risk factors:
- Premature birth
- Genetic causes
- Nerve and muscle disorders
- Developmental delay such as Autism
- Cognitive delay
- Vision deficits
- Gross motor delay
What to do?
The first step is to start a conversation with your pediatrician and ask for a referral to have an Occupational Therapy Evaluation at Connect the Dots! Our therapists have years of experience working with children who have fine motor delays, and know all of the tips and tricks to make therapy a fun and engaging experience. Have questions? Give us a call – we are here to help!