Motor skills are the abilities that allow us to perform movements and tasks in daily life, often without being aware of it. To develop motor skills in children, it is essential to first understand the differences between gross and fine motor skills.
Generally, children develop specific motor skills at certain ages as part of their natural development, but not every child masters these skills at the same time. Children with deficiencies in the development of motor skills may struggle to move in a controlled, coordinated, and efficient manner. In such cases, various activities that can be done at home and outside, with the advice of your doctor, can be supportive in developing motor skills. Additionally, motor skill exercises can help children who are developing normally to progress more quickly and effectively.
Fine motor skills refer to the coordination between small muscles, primarily in the hands and fingers, and the eyes. Developing fine motor skills strengthens and provides practice for the small muscles involved in activities such as writing, grasping small objects, pulling zippers, and buttoning. These skills require physical strength, fine motor control, and dexterity.
Fine Motor Skills in Infants Aged 0-3 Months
* Tracking hand movements with the eyes
* Bringing hands to the mouth
* Using arms to lightly hit or shake objects
Fine Motor Skills in Infants Aged 3-6 Months
* Using both arms to reach for objects
* Transferring objects from one hand to the other
* Holding one hand with the other
Fine Motor Skills in Infants Aged 6-9 Months
* Grasping and holding various objects such as bottles, toys
* Moving objects using fingers
* Squeezing and releasing objects with fingers
Fine Motor Skills in Infants Aged 9-12 Months
* Holding small, bite-sized food and bringing it to the mouth
* Turning book pages – multiple pages at a time
* Placing small objects into containers
* Holding objects between the index finger and thumb
* Beginning to show a preference for a dominant hand
Fine Motor Skills in Infants Aged 12-18 Months
* Stacking two toy blocks to make a tower
* Clapping hands
* Waving goodbye when parting
* Lifting objects/food with a spoon or small shovel
* Transferring very simple visuals onto paper with a crayon
Fine Motor Skills in Toddlers Aged 18 Months-2 Years
* Sliding toy rings onto sticks
* Holding crayons with fingertips and thumb
* Stacking 3-4 toy blocks to make a tower
* Opening loosely tied bags and packages
* Turning book pages – one page at a time
Fine Motor Skills in Children Aged 2 Years
* Playing with play dough
* Stacking 8-9 toy blocks to make a tower
* Turning doorknobs
* Washing hands independently
* Opening and closing large zippers
Fine Motor Skills in Children Aged 3 Years
* Drawing a circle on paper after an adult demonstrates
* Cutting or tearing a piece of paper in half
* Buttoning and unbuttoning large buttons
Fine Motor Skills in Children Aged 4 Years
* Bringing other fingertips together with the thumb (like counting)
* Using a fork
* Dressing and undressing without help
Fine Motor Skills in Children Aged 5 Years
* Holding a pencil correctly
* Drawing a triangle with help from a model
* Cutting out a drawn circle from paper with scissors
* Tying shoelaces
Fine Motor Skills in Children Aged 6 Years
* Stacking and arranging toy blocks to create a structure
* Solving 16-20 piece puzzles
* Cutting food with a knife
* Using scissors properly
Fine motor skills assist children throughout life, especially in performing most school activities. Weaknesses in these skills can make it difficult for children to perform actions such as eating, writing legibly, using a computer, turning pages in a book, dressing, and personal care.
So, what are some beneficial activities/items for developing fine motor skills in infants and young children?
1. Play dough: Playing with classic, moldable toys like play dough is a great way to develop motor skills in children.
2. Puzzles: Handling and moving puzzle pieces helps children develop the simple grasping motion made with the thumb and index finger. Puzzles also enhance hand-eye coordination, which is one of the most important fine motor skills. Waiting for your child to complete a puzzle can sometimes be frustrating, especially since young children may be impatient, easily give up, lose pieces, or try to put them in their mouths. But if you are patient, rest assured that the benefits your child will gain from this activity will be worth it. Start with the easiest models to help your child get used to puzzles and gradually progress to more difficult ones without rushing. Watching your child experience joy and satisfaction from completing a puzzle will also be rewarding for you.
3. Drawing and coloring: Encourage your child to draw and color. These activities not only benefit developing fine motor skills, but also support creativity and the development of imagination. Use different types of coloring and various materials such as crayons, chalk, finger paints, and paintbrushes to increase interest and enhance your child's hand-eye coordination. Painting with a fine brush helps children learn to hold a brush and gain better control over pens and other writing-drawing tools. Coloring areas separated by numbers in a picture is also one of the most beneficial forms of this activity.
4. Tongs and tweezers: Using a kitchen tong or tweezers to pick up and place objects like beads, buttons, grapes, and small food items into containers/boxes is an excellent exercise for developing both grasping motion and hand-eye coordination in children.
5. Cutting with scissors: Cutting simple figures drawn on colorful craft paper or thin cardboard with scissors is one of the most beneficial activities for developing motor skills in children.
6. Bath games: Bath sponges, water buckets, and bath toys are excellent resources for your child to develop their grasping skills while having fun.
7. Legos and blocks: Allow your child to build structures with Legos and small blocks according to their imagination! These toys are extremely beneficial for developing pushing and pulling movements, which are among the fine motor skills. Especially, Legos also contribute to the development of creativity. Other skills that children can learn while playing with Legos and building blocks include patience and persistence, a sense of achievement, and problem-solving ability.
Gross motor skills involve movements that require the use of large muscle groups and are generally broader in scope and require more energy than fine motor skills. Movements such as walking, kicking, jumping, bouncing, and climbing stairs fall under gross motor skills. Additionally, actions that require hand-eye coordination, such as throwing and catching objects, are also included in the scope of gross motor skills.
Gross Motor Skills in Infants Aged 3-6 Months
* Keeping the head upright while sitting with back support
* Lifting arms and legs when lying on the stomach
* Turning around
Gross Motor Skills in Infants Aged 6-12 Months
* Sitting without support
* Crawling
* Sitting independently and standing while sitting
Gross Motor Skills in Infants Aged 1 Year
* Walking while holding one hand of an adult
* Climbing onto low objects
* Climbing low stairs with assistance
* Pushing and pulling wheeled toys
Gross Motor Skills in Children Aged 2 Years
* Running short distances on tiptoes
* Jumping using both feet simultaneously
* Climbing stairs on hands and knees without holding onto the railing
Gross Motor Skills in Children Aged 3 Years
* Throwing a ball to an adult 1-1.5 meters away
* Running without falling
* Getting on a four-wheeled bike with assistance
Gross Motor Skills in Children Aged 4 Years
* Climbing stairs using both feet
* Running while changing speed
Gross Motor Skills in Children Aged 5 Years
* Jumping on one foot
* Performing jumping exercises
* Touching toes while bending
* Catching a ball using only two hands
Gross Motor Skills in Children Aged 6 Years
* Jumping over objects up to 25 centimeters
* Riding a four-wheeled bike without assistance
* Throwing objects accurately
* Kicking balls thrown to them
Gross motor skills are one of the most important parts of child development. The coordination of large muscle groups in our bodies involves complex neurological processes that require awareness of the senses, motor planning, balance, strength, and endurance. It is crucial for children who experience delays in the development of gross motor skills to consult a specialist who can assist in developing these skills. Additionally, there are various activities that can be easily implemented in the family environment to develop gross motor skills in children.
Here are a few methods that can be applied to develop gross motor skills in children:
1. Trampoline: Jumping on a trampoline is both fun and a great activity for improving balance. Enclosed trampoline areas are ideal for your child to socialize with their peers. However, if you are not sure that your child can follow safety instructions on their own or if your child is too small for this activity, you might consider purchasing small trampolines designed for children for safe use at home.
2. Hopscotch: Jumping and bouncing movements require balance and coordination, and they provide significant benefits for the development of gross motor skills. One of the best ways to combine these movements with fun is to play hopscotch. Hopscotch also helps develop counting skills.
3. Martial arts: Martial arts are good sports for children to strengthen their arm and leg muscles. Actions such as kicking, punching, and grasping and pulling effectively work the major muscle groups in these limbs. Martial arts also help children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder to focus and release excess energy.
4. Playing with balloons: Since balloons do not have a predictable flight path once released, playing with balloons is an effective way to develop motor skills in children. Children jump, bounce, zigzag, and run while chasing balloons. All these movements stimulate important muscle groups in the body as they require effective functioning of balance and center of gravity.
5. Bicycles, scooters, or wheeled cars: Children who have delays in the development of motor skills may learn to ride a bike later than their peers. However, not giving up immediately and opting for alternatives like tricycles, scooters, or wheeled cars will accelerate your child's acquisition of these skills.
6. Dance: Whether it's a dance class or fun movements done randomly at home, dancing is a good exercise for gross motor skills. Dancing helps children improve their balance, coordination, and sequencing skills. It also significantly contributes to your child's sense of rhythm.
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