Childhood Development Of Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are the coordination of small muscle movements which occur e.g., in the fingers, usually in coordination with the eyes. In application to motor skills of hands (and fingers) the term dexterity is commonly used.
The abilities which involve the use of hands develop over time, starting with primitive gestures such as grabbing at objects to more precise activities that involve precise eye–hand coordination. Fine motor skills are skills that involve a refined use of the small muscles controlling the hand, fingers, and thumb. The development of these skills allows one to be able to complete tasks such as writing, drawing, and buttoning.
During the infant and toddler years, children develop basic grasping and manipulation skills, which are refined during the preschool years. The preschooler becomes quite adept in self-help, construction, holding grips, and bimanual control tasks requiring the use of both hands.
— Essa, E., Young, R. & Lehne, L., Introduction to early childhood education, 2nd Ed. (1998)
When the child enters middle childhood he or she makes great progress in their artistic abilities. They begin to express themselves through drawing, sculpting, and clay modeling.
Read more about Childhood Development Of Fine Motor Skills: Self-care Skills, Writing Skills, Children’s Drawings, Helping Children With Their Fine Motor Development, Illness and Fine Motor Skills in Later Life
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