Too many people think fine motor development only means the way a child holds and uses pencils, crayons, and scissors. But fine motor development is much more. To understand fine motor development it is important to understand a little about how the human body develops.
Human development progresses from the head down and from the trunk outward. The torso and shoulders develop long before the elbow, the hips, long before the knees, and so on. In other words, skilled use of one's hands and fingers is the last in a long process of development.
Fine motor development is enhanced early in life by many opportunities to develop and refine large motor skills. It is developed by giving young children big pieces of paper and crayons, allowing them to practice their movements. We also help children's fine motor development through a variety of activities, such as working with play dough, constructing with legos, stringing beads, painting, doing puzzles, and playing with pegboards and other table toys.
Such engrossing activities are better than tasks at which the child may "fail" or those that are very repetitive. Through these fun, natural activities, children improve their fine motor development without frustration or boredom.
Human development progresses from the head down and from the trunk outward. The torso and shoulders develop long before the elbow, the hips, long before the knees, and so on. In other words, skilled use of one's hands and fingers is the last in a long process of development.
Fine motor development is enhanced early in life by many opportunities to develop and refine large motor skills. It is developed by giving young children big pieces of paper and crayons, allowing them to practice their movements. We also help children's fine motor development through a variety of activities, such as working with play dough, constructing with legos, stringing beads, painting, doing puzzles, and playing with pegboards and other table toys.
Such engrossing activities are better than tasks at which the child may "fail" or those that are very repetitive. Through these fun, natural activities, children improve their fine motor development without frustration or boredom.
The Tel Aviv children really enjoy playing with playdough, stringing beads of all shapes and sizes, and doing puzzles. Lately they have spent a lot of time painting at the tables with thin brushes, at the easel with thick brushes and with eye droppers and liquid water colors at the rectangular table. All great fun activities which are helping to strengthen and develop the muscles in their hands and fingers.
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