Being able to coordinate and use the small muscle groups in our hands, wrists, and fingers in a controlled way requires fine motor skills. Mastering these skills as kids allows us to be more independent.
With fine motor skills we can perform tasks, such as brushing our teeth, eating, and getting dressed, on our own.
This post discusses the benefits of building fine motor skills and how printables can serve as fantastic learning tools.
{ Guest Post by Julia }
Benefits of Working on Fine Motor Skills for Kids
Achieving fine motor skills milestones are an important component to childhood development.
Below are the benefits of working on fine motor skills.
1. Enhances hand-eye coordination
Since most hand movements require visual input to be effectively carried out, kids need to be able to coordinate hand and eye movements.
In order to play catch, write, draw, and place objects, kids need to master hand-eye coordination.
2. Helps children complete school-related tasks
In order to use the tools required in school, such as writing instruments or scissors, kids need fine motor skills.
Without these skills, kids may struggle academically.
It’s possible that kids can fall behind in school if they are unable to meet fine motor skills milestones.
By age five or six, kids should be able to copy shapes and letters.
3. Creates independent and boosts confidence
As children better understand how their bodies work, and the small muscles in their hands and fingers become stronger, they are able to complete more self-care tasks on their own.
They can also participate in more games and activities, such as puzzles or catch.
Kids who can successfully do more on their own, will ultimately develop more self-confidence.
4. Promotes cognitive development
Research suggests that there may be a link between fine motor skills and development of cognitive abilities.
Researches at the University of Nottingham School of Psychology found that fine motor skills were a significant predictor of math abilities in preschool students.
Using Printable Activities to Build Fine Motor Skills
Printables are a great way to get kids excited about practicing fine motor skills.
The four summer-themed printable activities below from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences require coloring, cutting, tracing, and placing objects, all of which will help children build the fine motor skills they need to succeed.
Sea Animals Coloring Printable
This coloring activity requires using crayons or markers to color, which will help strengthen wrist stability.
Kids can also cut out the sea animals with scissors, which will teach hand strength and hand-eye coordination.
Ice Cream Cone Grid Drawing Printable
This grid drawing activity will help kids practice their observational skills.
By splitting up the ice cream cone into smaller pieces, kids will begin to understand proportions and how to observe details.
Beach Trip Line Tracing Printable
This line tracing activity is an ideal exercise for kids who are just beginning to print their letters.
The act of tracing helps kids strengthen the muscles required to start writing.
Rainbow Placement Printable
This placement activity requires kids to grasp and place objects.
This helps to strengthen the small muscles in the hand and to refine hand-eye coordination.
For kids who continue to struggle with fine motor skills and miss milestones, it may be useful to consult an occupational therapist.
Do you use printables for building fine motor skills?
Let us know in the comments below!
And check out these other fine motor activities for toddlers and preschoolers!
Thanks to Julia for writing this guest post.
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