Fine motor skills are essential abilities that involve the coordination of small muscles in the hand and fingers. These skills are crucial for children’s overall development and enable them to participate in various important activities in their daily lives. For example, they are necessary for tasks such as fastening buttons and zippers, cutting food, as well as engaging in gross motor activities like climbing ladders and participating in play and classroom activities.
Fine motor skills are also crucial for tasks that require endurance and stability, such as writing and using scissors. Grip strength, which involves the strength of the entire hand, and pinch strength, which focuses on the thumb, index finger, and sometimes the middle finger, are both important aspects of fine motor skills that play significant roles in our everyday lives.
When children struggle with fine motor difficulties, it can significantly impact their academic performance at school (Wagenfeld et al., 2006). Therefore, it is important for parents to recognise the importance of supporting and developing their child’s fine motor skills to ensure their success in various areas of life.
The following is some of your child’s key journey of growth from six months to 60 months:
| Age | Skills |
| 6-12 months | Sit upright independentlyControlled reach and releasePickup small object with thumb and one fingerPaint with index finger |
| 12-24 months | Put shapes into shapes sorterScribble and painting with whole armsBring spoon to mouthTurn single page bookPut small items into a container |
| 24-36 months | Thread large beadsBuild a tower with 6 cube blocksComplete insert puzzlesScribbles within linesCopy vertical and horizontal linesTurn the lidPour liquid from one cup to another Manipulate scissors and cut on a straight line |
| 36-48 months | Trace thick linesFinger grip when drawing or writingEstablish hand dominanceCopy simple block designs (train, bridgeDress independently (socks, shoes, large buttons) |
| 48-60 months | Hold pencil with tripod gripTrace line with controlTrace and copy simple shapesCut simple shapes |
How to help?
Creating supportive environments with fun and playful activities at home to strengthen hand and finger muscles is an effective approach for parents to support children with fine motor difficulties. These activities offer a range of benefits, including improved functional skills, enhanced motor control, increased motivation, positive social interactions, and boosted self-esteem. By incorporating playful exercises and games into daily routines, parents and caregivers can create a supportive environment for children to develop the strength and dexterity needed to thrive in their daily lives.
The following are examples of activities parents can try at home:
- Little helper on hanging clothes (Daily life activity)
Materials: Clothesline, clothespins, child-sized laundry basket, colorful socks or small items of clothing.
Activity: Have your child help you hang clothes on the line. Encourage them to pinch the ends of the clothespins to secure the items. This activity strengthens finger muscles, coordination, attention, and confidence.
Variation: Use different-sized clothespins or have your child hang up socks or other small items of clothing.
- Making a Refreshing iced drink (Social play and leisure activity)
Materials: Ice cube tray, small cups, tongs, spoons, various ingredients like juice and fruit.
Activity: Have your child help use tongs to pick up ice or small fruits into a cup. Let your child pour the juice in there. This activity strengthens finger muscles, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination.
Variation: Use different fruits, herbs, and liquids to create various flavor combinations. For more advanced children, they could help chop up the fruit into small cubes or pieces or add more steps.
- Being a Fireman or Gardener (Messy play)
Materials: Spray bottle filled with water, small toy fire truck or watering can, plastic cups or small plants.
Activity: Let your child pretend to be a firefighter putting out fires or a gardener watering plants. This can be done in the bathroom or on the balcony. Encourage them to pump the spray bottle and aim the water stream at the target. This activity strengthens hand muscles and hand-eye coordination.
Variation: Use different-sized spray bottles or have your child water real plants. To provide more support, have your child sit down while they play.
- Building Hand and Grip Strength through Outdoor Play:
Climbing: By climbing ladders, monkey bars, and net ladders, children develop confidence and strength.
Ropes & Bars: Hanging, gripping, pulling, and pushing on ropes and bars are not only fun but also a great way to build hand strength. At the park, parents and children can climb ropes using different skills, like the fireman’s climb.
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Beery, K. E., Buktenica, N. A., & Beery, N. A. (2010). The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (6th ed.). NCS Pearson.
Folio, M. R., & Fewell, R. R. (2000). Peabody Developmental Motor Scales and Activity Cards (2nd ed.). PRO-ED.
Wagenfeld, J., Smith, A., Johnson, M., & Brown, K. (2006). The impact of fine motor difficulties on children’s school performance. Journal of Educational Psychology, 98(2), 325-335
Written by Fiona Yim, Occupational Therapy Assistant @ The Children’s Centre