[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Fine motor skills are very important as we get older. We need them for nearly every daily task that we undertake. If we do not learn these fine motor skills as youngsters, it can make things more difficult for us as we age. If you have noticed that your child struggles with fine motor skill development, or if you want to prevent your child from struggling with the development of these skills, here are a few tips that you can use. Each of them can help your child get the skills he or she needs.
1 – Use Safety Scissors Regularly
One of the best ways for children to develop fine motor skills is by using safety scissors. This allows them to cut out shapes, which are great for them to learn with, and cut along lines. The more often they use safety scissors in your presence, the more of these skills you will see coming to the surface.
2 – Make Sure Your Child Gets to Draw Often
Using a pencil to draw on a regular basis allows your child to develop fine motor skills, too. They can create lines, shapes, and even mimic what other people have made. Allowing them to trace or copy what others have drawn allows them to focus on a specific outcome, further developing their skills.
3 – Let Your Child Get Themselves Dressed
By allowing your child to get dressed, you leave the reliance to fasten their clothing on them. Things like buttons, zippers, and even Velcro allow them to work on their fine motor skills, while also boosting their confidence in taking care of themselves.
4 – Play Clapping and Touching Games
When you ask your child to clap their own hands, then yours, they must focus on where their hands go. This helps them hone their motor skills. When you include touching your fingertips with theirs or touching things like their own noses or toes, you work on fine motor skills. Make these games a regular part of their day.
5 – Enjoy the Fun of Puzzles
When you want your child to be able to learn how things go together, plus be able to manipulate different shaped pieces into place, then puzzles are a great bet. You should make sure the puzzles are age-appropriate, but they should also have at least 5-10 pieces to get the most benefit.
If you want more ideas on how to help improve the development of fine motor skills in your child, consider talking to the experts at Speech & Occupational Therapy of North Texas. They can help you every step of the way![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]