1. FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT Kimberly Ward CEPD 8102-NO2

2. What is the importance of fine motor development?  “According to Montessori theory, the hand leads the mind.” (Stewart, Rule, & Giordano, 2007).  Predictor of the academic success in later grades.  Support children with attention difficulties.  Increase academic performance.

3. What are fine motor skills?  The development of the small muscle groups in the hands.  The ability to coordinate the hand and eye in order to accomplish specific tasks.  “The delicate manipulation of objects.” (Drew, 2008)

4. What is appropriate development of fine motor skills?  By the end of 5 years old children should be able to…  Copy triangles and other geometric patterns.  Dress and undress without assistance.  Use a fork, spoon, and (sometimes) a table knife. (CDC, 2010)

5. What are fine motor development warning signs?  The child is unable …  To build a tower of six to eight blocks.  To properly grasp and control a pencil or crayon.  To cut on a line. (CDC, 2010)

6. What are the causes of fine motor deficits?  Birth defects.  Developmental disabilities.  Lack of preschool experience.  Lack of experiences in the home environment.

7. What are examples of birth defects and developmental disabilities?  Autism  Cerebral Palsy  Vision Impairment  Intellectual Disabilities

8. What are the signs of vision impairments?  If vision impairments are present a child may…  Hold a book too close to his face.  Make errors when copying from the board.  Display a short attention span in reading or copying.

9. How does lack of home and preschool experiences affect fine motor skills?  Large amounts of time watching television.  Little time involved in fine motor activities such as building with blocks, making puzzles, and coloring.  Children have few materials used for fine motor development.

10. How do fine motor activities help with attention difficulties?  Child participation in fine motor activities during the school day and manipulation of fine motor toys while completing assignments can…  Produce more time on task.  Produce more questions answered.  Produce more questions answered correctly.

11. What can be done to improve fine motor development?  Children should be actively involved in activities requiring the use of the hands and eyes.  Play a game of jacks or a game of toss with a ball.  Play games using tools such as clothespins, tongs, or tweezers to pass or move objects.  Manipulate clay to create different shapes and objects.

12. Why should teachers be concerned with fine motor development?  Recognize warning signs for intervention.  Support children with attention difficulties.  Increase academic performance.  Improve life skills of children.

13. References American Academy of Pediatrics (2009, November 23). Child care settings may double total TV time for young children. Retrieved from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/pages/Child-Care-Settings-May-Double-Total-TV-Time-For-Young- Children.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000- 000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3A+No+local+token Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Developmental Disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/default.htm Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Learn the signs. Act early. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-5yr.html Drew, S. (2008). Take Ten. United Kingdom: LDA Learning Kercood, S., Grskovic, J. A., Lee, D. L., & Emmert, S. (2007). The effects of fine motor movement and tactile stimulation on the math problem solving of students with attention problems. Journal of Behavioral Education, 16(4), 303-310. doi:10.1007/s10864- 007-9042-1

14. References Luo, Z., Jose, P., Huntsinger, C., & Pigott, T. (2007). Fine motor skills and mathematics achievement in east asian american and european american kindergartners and first graders. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 25(4), 595-614. doi:10.1348/026151007X185329 Grissmer, D., Grimm, K., Aiyer, S., Murrah, W., & Steele, J. (2010). Fine motor skills and early comprehension of the world: Two new school readiness indicators. Developmental Psychology, 46(5), 1008-1017. doi:10.1037/a0020104 Stewart, R. A., Rule, A. C., & Giordano, D. A. (2007). The effect of fine motor skill activities on kindergarten student attention. Early Childhood Education Journal, 35(2), 103-109. doi:10.1007/s10643-007-0169-4 Santrock, J. W. (2008). Essentials of life-span development. New York: McGraw-Hill.