Blog - Best ways to improve fine motor skils

Fine motor skills refer to the coordination between small muscles, like those of the hands and fingers, with the eyes.

These skills are important in most school activities as well as in life in general. Weaknesses in fine motor skills can affect a child's ability to eat, write legibly, use a computer, turn pages in a book and perform personal care tasks, such as dressing and grooming.

If your child has fine motor weaknesses that may affect his education, discuss your concerns with your child's therapist. Evaluation by a physical or occupational therapist can determine if his fine motor skills are a concern and if therapy can improve them.

Many toys develop fine motor skills, including those for infants and toddlers. For school-aged children, board games with pieces and parts to pick up and move are ideal for developing these skills.
Remote control cars are great for preschool and elementary kids.

Develop skills by drawing with your child by using markers, crayons, coloured pencils, and chalk. Drawings needn't be perfect, and scribbling is just fine for developing fine motor skills.

Origami is a paper-folding art that builds skills and is a fun family craft. You can use construction, wrapping or other decorative papers to make fine motor skill building origami shapes.
Papercutting activities build skills and control and can be as simple or complex as you need. Beginners can start with cutting out paper chains and progress to more complex projects.

Make paper snowflakes.
Greeting cards and placemat crafts are also a fun fine motor skills activity.