Fine Motor Skill Development
“Occupational therapy primarily focuses on supporting our client’s with tasks that are both challenging and meaningful. Many client’s I support find multiple daily living tasks difficult. So in order for me to prioritise our therapy goals, I need to understand the importance of each task in relation to my client’s safety, health and personal goals.
Fine motor skill development extends well beyond task completion. It’s more about how each specific task builds confidence, independence and social connection.
So what are fine motor skills, and why are they so important?
Fine motor skills involve the use of small muscles necessary for performing precise and coordinated movements that are important for our daily living. These movements also often require hand-eye coordination, sensory awareness and bilateral integration (using both hands together in a purposeful way).
Occupational therapists often support fine motor skills such as:
Pencil grip, handwriting or typing.
Using buttons, zips or tying shoelaces.
Using and feeding with utensils
Cutting with scissors.
Managing money, cards or tools.
Using a touchscreen or gaming controller
Many of these developmental skills not only promote our functional capacity with daily living tasks. They are also deeply connected to our ability to connect with both ourselves and others.
How do fine motor skills promote our overall health and wellbeing?
Independence with daily living.
Personal care tasks such as dressing, washing ourselves, toileting, brushing our teeth, preparing meals and eating are excellent examples of how fine motor skills are important for our independence. Promoting independence with these everyday life skills is crucial for maintaining our privacy and dignity which in turn supports our identity and quality of life.
Learning and education.
Whilst in Australia we are fortunate to have access to excellent education, fine motor skill development is vital to maintain access and inclusion within our learning environments. For example, in schools students often partake in learning activties that involve writing, drawing, cutting or typing. Even everyday tasks such as opening containers or compartments to access required items may be challenging. Whilst teachers may be able to adapt learning tasks to suit individual needs, often students become frustrated, upset or fatigued because they are unable to keep up with their peers. This understandably often results in frustration, low self-confidence and disengagement.
Communication and Self-Expression
Many individuals diagnosed with disability and/or neurodivergence experience challenges with verbal communication requiring them to use non-verbal communication methods such as writing, typing, gesturing or other forms of technology (such as iPad or communication device). Expressing our needs, preferences, interests and ideas is vital to ensure equity of voice and promotes a sense of agency and belonging.
Social engagement through play.
There are numerous activities and games which require precise coordinated movements such as lego, building blocks, arts and crafts, sewing or even navigating video game controllers! Many of these activities are also hobbies which can directly support our ability to emotionally regulate by creating a sense of calm and focus. Once again, sharing and engaging in interest based activities promotes our social confidence and a sense of belonging.
Work and employment.
Unfortunately, numerous reports (including the recent Royal Commission) highlight how individuals with neurodivergence and/or disability experience numerous barriers to employment which are directly related to ableist perceptions of perceived ability. However, building our client’s self-efficacy with fine motor skills can build their confidence to self-advocate and may also widen the scope of employment.
For example, building confidence and proficiency with typing or computer skills can allow individuals to feel more confident applying for administration or corporate roles. Whilst increasing hand strength and dexterity may enable a client to apply for jobs within numerous industries such as hospitality, trade or even health care!
Cognitive and sensory integration.
Cognitive and sensory integration refers to the connection between our body and brain. Art based activities such as drawing, painting, crafting or building supports important skills such as maintaining attention, sequencing and visual-spatial skills whilst also involving gentle sensory input. Musical instruments are a wonderful example of a meaningful activity that promotes cognitive and sensory integration, emotional regulation and social connection. Embedding sensory elements such as touch, pressure, rhythm or vibration within fine motor activities provides valuable feedback to our brain; in turn supporting executive functioning and planning.
Final thoughts.
Fine motor skills are paramount to promoting our identity, self-confidence and ability to live independently. Whilst these tasks appear small or perhaps insignificant, each one represents a new skill which directly promotes our confidence. Mastering these small, yet challenging tasks builds our resilience, self-confidence and enables us to believe that we can and will achieve our goals.