The Importance of Developing Fine Motor Skills
We all want our little ones to develop and grow to be capable and confident learners. Learners, who are able to solve problems, carry out self-help tasks and be emotionally and socially competent. At Buckle My Shoe, we offer our little ones a variety of experiences that promote and support the development of these skills.
Activities that focus on fine motor skills help strengthen finger muscles, which are essential for doing anything and everything. When our little ones are able to achieve tasks, their self-esteem gets a boost – supporting a positive and motivated attitude towards learning in general.
Throughout the day, both inside and outdoors; our little ones have opportunities to engage with their hands. Working with construction materials is a great example of this. Our little ones are using their fingers and problem solving skills to match and fit different pieces together.
Our little engineer’s kit is a great resource that our little ones love to use to bring their ideas to life. As they twist and turn the screws, they are strengthening the muscles that control the hand, fingers and thumb.
Other resources such as magnetic shapes also promote fine motor skills as our little ones arrange the shapes to create a formation, structure or pattern. The magnets add an additional layer of discovery to the interaction, as they are required to not only create something but also ensure the magnets attract and join together instead of repel.
Playing with resources like our counting bears and animal shapes encourage our little ones to position, move and group items in different ways using their fingers. Not only are they strengthening their concentration skills as they do this, but they are using their fingers to learn more about the properties of the objects – such as their size and shape. Sometimes our little ones enjoy using tongs to transfer the bears into different bowls and this is another way they strengthen finger muscles.
Playdough, drawing and cutting are other ways in which fine motor skills are enhanced. These resources and activities are part of the everyday curriculum and each time our little ones engages in these, they are building complexity in their thinking skills as well as strengthening their finger muscles to support everyday tasks - such as doing up their zip or brushing their teeth.
Recently one of our wonderful teachers created a resource to extend on our little ones’ fine motor skills and colour recognition. Round colour wheels were offered on the table alongside some pegs and as soon as our tamariki saw this, they were spread out around the table. Using the strategy of role modelling, one of our kaiako demonstrated how to pinch the peg and attach it to the corresponding colour on the wheel.
It was now time for our little ones to have a go! Choosing a peg, they began to explore and experiment with how to get it to open. It was fascinating to see different approaches to opening the peg and the intense concentration being displayed.
With perseverance and determination, our little ones were able to get the peg on the wheel and we made sure to celebrate their achievement, leaving them feeling valued and motivated to move on to the next peg.
You can support the development of fine motor skills at home throughout daily routines. Perhaps you could invite your little one to help with the pegs while you are hanging out the laundry or offer your little one the opportunity to serve themselves with tongs during meal times.
Every little bit counts towards supporting our tamariki in developing their fine motor skills. 😊