Fine Motor Skills

Define Physical skills that involve hand-eye co-ordination and small muscles Eg – buttoning a shirt or tying a shoe lace Development of such skills allow greater responsibility for personal care Papalia, Wendkos Olds, Duskin Feldman, 2009, p.225

Observations Preference for right hand Copied basic shapes – circles, squares, rectangles Drew basic human figure, houses, cars, animals Could write his name

Observation Cont. Weaved a shoe lace through a series of holes and tied a knot Manipulated pieces of paper before gluing them onto card

Guidelines Four Year Old Five Year Old Hold pencil between thumb and 1-3 other fingers Draw basic human shapes and other simple pictures Brush teeth with supervision Wipe after using toilet Dress with exception of hard to reach buttons, bows and shoelaces Thread a large needle Copy basic shapes Begin learning to write letters Show more detailed drawings Improved scissor skills Use knife and fork together Clear hand perference (Queensland Health, 2003).

The skills demonstrated meet those of a four year old and the abilities of a five year old As development continues the complexity of skills will increase by combining movements Giving a wider, more precise range and increased control of environment (Papalia et al, 2009, p.225)