1. Chapter 43 Fine Motor Skills Issues and Challenges with Mastering School Readiness Skills by Amy Wagenfeld, PhD, OTR/L, SCEM, CAPs

2. Background Information (cont.)
Fine motor skills enable people to be effective tool users.
Build onto a foundation of gross motor skills.
By the time children enter school, expected to be skilled tool users.

3. Background Information (cont.)
Research finds a relationship between fine motor skills and:
Academic and scholastic skills
Self-esteem
Important to intervene and implement individualized strategies to enhance children’s fine motor skills to avoid needless failure

4. Clinical Presentation (cont.)
Mikey is a 6-year-old white boy
Lives with mom and two brothers
Attends public school
In kindergarten, showed signs of favoring tasks that involve gross motor skills versus skills that involve fine motor skills

5. Clinical Presentation (cont.)
Piano teacher said he has difficulty coordinating fingers to move along with his eyes as reads music.
In first grade, expected to write letters and use scissors.
Work is poor quality.
He has short attention span for the activities.

6. Clinical Presentation (cont.)
Does not want to play games that involve fine motor skills
At home says he is dumb and stupid
In consultation with first-grade teacher, an occupational therapy evaluation scheduled

7. Clinical Presentation (cont.)
Determined that once-weekly occupational therapy sessions useful in strengthening fine motor skills
Home and in-class program developed
Entire class participated in a fine motor skills school readiness program

8. Clinical Presentation (cont.)
By end of school year, Mikey’s skills had significantly improved.
No longer was self-disparaging.