As a parent or caregiver, you want your child to thrive — and you will likely do whatever you can to help them grow toward that. So, when you notice your child experiencing challenges with tiny, calculated movements, called fine motor skills, during day-to-day routines, your first impulse may be to intervene. You are ready to support your child’s development through skill-building, confidence-boosting activities at home.

How Does My Child Use Fine Motor Skills?

Fine motor skills are small, highly coordinated actions that involve either the wrists, hands, and fingers or the ankles, feet, and toes to perform tasks that require complex muscle movements.

Your child uses these skills to complete daily tasks, such as brushing their teeth, combing their hair, squeezing lemons with you to make lemonade, writing or typing messages, or getting dressed. They are small actions with essential roles in helping your child succeed in life.

How Can We Improve Fine Motor Skills at Home?

To help your child improve their fine motor skills at home, here are some easy, age-appropriate activities you and your child can practice together:

  • 0 to 6 months old: pique your child’s curiosity by giving them a variety of textures to touch and experience.
  • 3 to 6 months old: give your child toys to play with as they sit in your lap.
  • 6 to 9 months old: grab some fun objects for your child and encourage them to place those objects in bowls or buckets and take them out.
  • 9 to 12 months old: practice finger painting together using safe and nontoxic materials.
  • 1 to 2 years old: teach your child how to pinch small items to pick them up.
  • 3 to 4 years old: build towers and other structures together using toy blocks.
  • 4 to 5 years old: create artwork together by using colorful pipe cleaners.

When Should I Talk with a Professional?

If your child struggles with fine motor skills in their daily activities, talk with an occupational therapist to discuss your observations and concerns. They can provide professional answers to your questions and, if needed, develop a course of action tailored to the unique abilities and needs of your child. Occupational therapy is your child’s path to success for developing their fine motor skills.

Reach Out to First Steps for Expert Support

Do you feel like your child needs more than home activities to learn and refine fine motor skills? No problem at all! At First Steps Pediatric Therapy, we will create an individualized plan to help your child develop these essential skills for everyday life.

Ready to gather more information or set up your free 15-minute screening? Call us today at (720) 989-0179. We look forward to chatting about your child’s bright future.