Fine (Small) Motor Skills - Health and Physical Development: Ages 3-5

Widely Held Expectations

• Child uses finger and hand control to operate and use small objects to demonstrate fine (small) motor coordination
  
  • Uses eye-hand coordination to perform a variety of tasks
  • Develops fine (small) motor skills through participation in activities
  • Uses strength and control to perform simple tasks
• Child explores drawing and painting materials

Learning in Action: Examples

The Child

• Participates in activities which require the use of small muscles (buttoning, squeezing, etc.)
• Handles small objects with growing skill (stringing small beads, fitting small objects into holes, etc.)
• Pulls caps off markers and puts them back on firmly, easily uses scissors, brushes, pencils, etc.
• Puts small building blocks together and pulls them apart with relative ease
• Opens/closes jars or lids on containers

The Adult

• Provides adequate time and materials for fine (small) motor skills (drawing, handwriting development, use of computer keyboard/mouse, musical instruments, etc.)
• Plans for scheduled and spontaneous activities that support the development of fine (small) motor skills
• Provides relevant and challenging activities to help children build more advanced fine (small) motor skills

The Environment Includes

• Art materials, tools, workbench, clay, toys, puzzles, blocks, beads, etc.
• A variety of materials for writing and drawing