Fine motor skills
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills (/faɪn 'moʊtər 'skɪlz/) are the coordination of small muscle movements—usually involving the synchronization of hands and fingers—with the eyes. The complex levels of manual dexterity that humans exhibit can be attributed to and demonstrated in tasks controlled by the nervous system.
Etymology
The term "fine motor skills" is a combination of the words "fine" and "motor". "Fine" is derived from the Latin word "finis" meaning end or extreme, and "motor" comes from the Latin word "motor" meaning mover. Together, they refer to the precise movement and control of muscles, particularly those in the hands and fingers.
Development of Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills develop as a child grows, starting from simple movements like grasping objects to more complex tasks like tying shoelaces. This development is influenced by factors such as physical growth, environmental experience, and the child's desire to explore and interact with the world around them.
Importance of Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are essential for performing everyday skills like self-care tasks (e.g., clothing fastenings, opening lunch boxes, and cleaning teeth) and academic skills (e.g., pencil skills of drawing, writing and coloring, as well as keyboarding). They also impact on the speed and accuracy, or efficiency, of performing tasks.
Related Terms
- Gross Motor Skills: These are the abilities required in order to control the large muscles of the body for walking, running, sitting, crawling, and other activities.
- Motor Coordination: This is the combination of fine and gross motor skills working together to produce movements.
- Motor Learning: This involves learning to make a new response or improving the efficiency of an existing response.
- Motor Control: This is the process of initiating, directing, and grading purposeful voluntary movement.
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