Some theory…

Fine motor skills are what allow an individual to handle objects, retrieve and manipulate them and let them go using the hand, fingers and thumb. Examples include picking up tokens on a table, holding dice and turning over cardboard cards. Fine motor skill exercises serve to improve, regulate and instil greater finesse in each of the child’s gestures to allow him to work with greater precision. Fine motor skills are essential for writing. At age 2 or 3, the child is capable of using each hand alternatively to seize objects. At around age 4, the child is capable of using a finger to trace a labyrinth, circle with a pencil and draw simple geometric forms. Between ages 4 and 6, grasping the pencil has been mastered and the child uses it with more precision, adding details to drawings. He can cut a straight line with scissors, thread pearls, dress and undress alone and make loops.

How to stimulate the child's development through play...

To help the child develop fine motor skills, encourage him though different exercises such as cutting, drawing, threading, working with play dough, etc. It is important not to take the child’s place even when he sometimes experiences difficulties turning over the cards on the table, skilfully rolling dice or placing tokens in their allotted spaces. You must take advantage of the play context to prepare your child for kindergarten, where he will be asked on a daily basis to perfect these skills.

To learn more

Doyon, L.. (2008). Préparez votre enfant à l’école, 500 jeux psychomoteurs pour les enfants de 2 à 6 ans, Les Éditions de l’homme.

Article on the subject based on

Shaffer, D. (2010). Developmental psychology: childhood and adolescence, Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. http://www.votre-enfant.com/wiki/Le_d%C3%A9veloppement_psychomoteur_de_l%27enfant_%28partie_1%29

Developed by Audrey Leblanc and Mélanie Martel, psychoeducators ©2011, Groupe Formation Intervention inc., Montréal.