As your child grows, they develop essential skills to reach goals and become independent. Some of those skills involve small, precise movements of the wrists, hands, and fingers or the ankles, feet, and toes. The other skills use a sweeping range of motion with the arms, torso, or legs.

The small, calculated movements are called fine motor skills, while the large, expansive movements are gross motor skills. Your child needs both categories of skills to participate in daily activities, navigate various situations, enjoy hobbies, and more.

What Are Fine Motor Skills?

Fine motor skills are the tiny, highly coordinated movements your child learns for complex tasks. They are precise actions that engage the wrists, hands, and fingers or the ankles, feet, and toes for handling daily activities. Here are several common fine motor skills:

  • Grasping a pencil to write or draw with it
  • Using eating utensils for self-feeding
  • Twisting a knob to open a door
  • Playing the piano or another instrument
  • Having accurate footwork for dance or sports

What Are Gross Motor Skills?

Gross motor skills are large movements your child uses for everyday actions. They involve the arms, torso, and legs to make expansive ranges of motion. Anytime your child engages these larger muscles for gross motor skills, they are able to complete numerous day-to-day tasks and strengthen their independence. Here are some common activities that need gross motor skills:

  • Sitting upright without back support
  • Twisting the torso side to side
  • Waving the arms and hands overhead
  • Standing, walking, or running
  • Kicking a ball in soccer

Ways to Strengthen Fine and Gross Motor Skills at Home

Now that you know how fine and gross motor skills help your child become more independent, you’re probably curious about how you can support your child in further developing these confidence-boosting abilities. Here are a few simple activities you can try out at home with your child:

  • Fine motor skills: make towers with building blocks, finger paint with nontoxic materials, peel clementines for snacktime, or create designs with colorful pipe cleaners.
  • Gross motor skills: encourage crawling by using fun toys as lures, set up a fun obstacle course made of pillows for crawling and climbing, dance to favorite songs together, or play hopscotch.

Reach Out to First Steps for Expert Support

Think your child may benefit from strengthening their fine and gross motor skills? Our experienced team of therapists here at First Steps Pediatric Therapy can help. Call us today at (700) 900-7432 to learn more about our therapy services or book your free 15-minute phone screening.