Why Are Fine Motor Skills Declining in Children?

Fine Motor Development Course to Earn Credit Hours

So many changes in society impact fine motor development in children. As an occupational therapist (since 2002) I have continued to see a rapid decline with children meeting developmental milestones. Kids are not participating in fine motor activities like they used to!

One of the recent complaints and frustrations that I hear from teachers as a school-based occupational therapist is how kids’ fine motor skills are getting worse every year. I don’t just hear this from kindergarten teachers, I also hear it from teachers in 1st through 6th grade!

Kids are not playing like they used to (I sound like my grandmother!) But it is so true. So many societal changes impact a child’s fine motor skills. 

*Help your preschool and elementary school children meet fine motor developmental milestones with the Fine Motor Development in Children Self-Paced Online Course.

Developed by a pediatric occupational therapist, this course shares 37 pages of downloadable information on fine motor development and 36 printables with over 485 fine motor activities on the PDFs. You’ll find EASY ways to work on fine motor skills during everyday tasks as kids play and learn. 

What Fine Motor Activities Are Children Missing Out On? 

Babies are now spending time in what I like to refer to as baby containers.  They spend excessive amounts of time in bouncers, car seats, swings, saucers, and walkers.  They are not getting the tummy time that they need which helps build the large muscles in the body that support gross and fine motor skills development. 

In addition to decreased tummy time, babies do not play enough on blankets on the floor which allows the body to work against gravity to also support the development of these skills. 

Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school children are frequently occupied with screens throughout the day. You see them on screens in a stroller, in a car, at the grocery store, at a sporting event, or at home during play time. 

Screen time in young children has taken the place of outdoor play opportunities that build the larger muscles and hand-eye coordination needed to build a child’s fine motor skills. 

Screens have replaced indoor play experiences that support cognitive development and fine motor control (among many other skills!). 

A child’s development is dependent upon the child’s opportunities to interact with and explore their environment, and actively participate in daily activities.   

In addition, we live in a fast-paced, race the clock world. Parents are busy and want convenience and time savers, and teachers have expectations and pressure on them.

But there really is enough time to work on basic foundational skills for kids. We just have to slow down and change the way we present the opportunities for kids.

Unless there are underlying neurological conditions, children should naturally meet developmental milestones when given opportunities for play and independence during everyday activities.

Fine Motor Development in Children

Fine Motor Development in Children

Fine motor skills in the small muscles develop in babies and continue to develop sequentially during daily tasks and play experiences as children grow. 

Babies use a pincer grasp and hand-eye coordination to pick up small objects or small pieces of food and isolate their index finger to point. 

Toddlers begin to use more precise movements with their hands as they interact with toys and small objects. Preschoolers develop more coordination of the fingers during fine motor tasks and learn how to manipulate small items and hold crayons properly. 

Fine motor skill milestones continue to be met as elementary school children complete more complex tasks using their hands. 

For children of all ages, fine motor development happens during everyday activities. Children have numerous opportunities throughout each day for fine motor activities as they interact with the world around them. 

A child’s hand develops skills during daily self-help tasks (eating, getting dressed, tying shoes, food prep, helping with chores) and during play tasks (blocks, building sets, puzzles, toys, board games, coloring, drawing.)

Maria Montessori said it best “Play is the work of the child.” 

Play encourages problem solving, executive function, memory, independence, creativity, communication, social skills, coping skills, sensory development, motor skills, and brain growth! It’s the best opportunity to build skills in children. 

Occupational Therapy Fine Motor Activities

During my occupational therapy evaluations, I do not just look at a child’s hands and fine motor development in isolation. I look at the whole body first, before assessing fine motor skills. My assessments cover sensory processing skills, visual-perception, and motor skills development. I analyze various types of movements that a child uses as he or she interacts with their environment. 

The OT activities that I use are dependent upon the different ages of the children and the areas that need more support. 

Again, the occupational therapy fine motor activities that I use for each child, are NOT just activities for the child’s small muscles in the hands.  

If a child needs it, I use many of the following activities to work on large muscle groups in order to support fine motor abilities. 

Children need core strength in order to use the small muscles in their hands more optimally.  Upper extremity weight-bearing activities on open palms, as well as vertical and core activities support fine motor skills. Motor coordination in the large muscles helps with fine motor control. 

The ability to cross the midline of the body and to use both hands in a coordinated manner support the development of hand dominance. 

(Click on each article in the list for example activities on each topic.) 

More specific activities that address fine motor control in children are discussed in the next section. 

Fine Motor Skills Examples

Some examples of fine motor skills that I also look at as an occupational therapist include many components of hand skill development.  I assess hand strength, grasp development, motor and sensory awareness, finger dexterity (in-hand manipulation skill), tactile discrimination, visual motor skills, pre-writing, printing, and cutting skills. 

I choose the fine motor activities that support fine motor skill development for each child, based on their difficulty in using the smaller muscles in the hand. 

(Click on any of the areas and examples of fine motor skills for more information on each topic.)

Fine Motor Activities PDF

Fine Motor Development in Children Self-Paced Online Course

If you are faced with the same challenge as the teachers I work and you are seeing too many children with weak fine motor skills, dive into this self-paced online course developed by an experienced occupational therapist.

Follow along with the visuals and listen to the audio to learn about fine motor development in children. You will get 37 pages of downloadable information on fine motor development as well as 36 printables with over 485 fine motor activities on the PDFs!

It’s easier than you think to help kids improve fine motor control during daily activities at home and at school.  This course offers a certificate when completed.

Develop Learn Grow is a PDE Approved Provider. Educators can gain Act 48 Credits after taking this course!

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School-Based OT

Amy Hathaway MOT, OTR/L, CIMI-2 is a licensed and registered occupational therapist.  She is the founder of Develop Learn Grow. 

Amy has 22 years of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist.   She enjoys collaborating with teachers, parents, therapists, administrators, and support staff in preschools & schools, as well as coaching and guiding parents of infants and toddlers in their homes.

She is married and has three children.  Click to read Amy’s bio.  

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