Richard Rooney M.D, on Developing and Improving Fine Motor Skills

The development of fine motor skills comes at different speeds for all children. A child who is lacking in fine motor skills will frequently drop items, trip, and have a generally tough time handling certain tasks. For example, learning to tie shoes is nearly impossible for a child with poor motor skills. They won't be able to perform simple tasks like writing either. The importance of helping your child develop motor skills cannot be stressed enough. Below are some simple ways you can help your children get a grasp on their motor skills.

Hobbies and Personal Interests
A great way to help your child develop and improve their motor skills is playing off their current hobbies or interests. There are many activities a child can do to refine their motor skills. Anything that requires hand movements and hand-eye coordination are great places to start. Popular toys like Lego blocks are perfect for older children while younger children may find many benefits from an activity like using play-dough. Other great ways to engage motor skills are trying activities such as painting, or learning a musical instrument.

Various Games
There is an abundance of games suitable for children and adolescents that can surely improve fine motor skills. While video games are often viewed as a mindless activity, there are plenty of different games available that specifically focus on childhood development. Video games will not only help children learn to use their fingers and hand-eye coordination, but they will also help them with their reflexes; they can be an excellent way to give your child's fine motor skills a kick-start. However, always be aware of the type of game you’re purchasing. Additionally, traditional board games can be a great option as well. A building game, such as Jenga is the perfect choice for a child who is struggling with fine motor skills. In fact, Jenga makes use of the same grip and muscles that writing requires.

Enroll in Pre-School
Pre-school teachers are a great resource for assisting with your child's fine motor skill development. In fact, it's one of major areas that pre-school focus on. A lot of the activities performed in pre-school are intended to help with motor skills development. From puzzles and drawing, to arts and crafts, different activities can help fine tune the development of both cognitive and motor skills.

Your child’s motor skills are essential to their overall growth and development. Use some of these tips to help them improve over time.

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This article was originally published on richardrooneymd.org

About the Author

Richard Rooney M.D. is a board certified orthopaedic spine surgeon who works in Seattle, Washington at his own private practice. He resides in Seattle, WA with his wife and two sons. Throughout his career, Richard Rooney M.D. has distinguished himself as a renowned orthopaedic surgeon. He truly loves the immersive nature of his work and the fact that he's able to help people live better, less painful lives. Through his practice, Seattle Spine Group, Richard focuses on treatment for back pain, neck pain, radiculopathy, and sciatica. They recently introduced an entire spectrum of spine care and stem cell therapy care with a focus on disk replacement.
When Richard Rooney M.D. isn't busy at work as a spine surgeon, he likes to spend his time outdoors with his wife and sons, enjoying all the natural and manmade beauty that his home state of Washington has to offer.
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