Fine Motor Development 3

FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

3 - 4 YEAR OLDS
Fine Motor: is the way in which the small movements of the small muscles of the hands, wrists, fingers, toes, eyes and tongue are used.
Hand-eye co-ordination:
This is the ability to use the eyes to control the movements of the hands when executing a specific task.

Hand-toe co-ordination:
This refers to the ability to use the eyes to control the movements of the toes when executing a specific task.

Dexterity:
This is the accurate movement or manipulation of the fingers.

This Fine Motor Developmental Checklist should serve the following two purposes:

Use the checklist as a guide of Fine Motor development that you should be stimulating, through play or even through daily activities.

Should you find that your child is not developing according to several items on the checklist, it is advised that you consult with an Occupational Therapist, General Practitioner (GP), Pediatrician, etc. for further advice.

This list is a guide and should not be used for diagnostic purposes.

THREE YEARS (approximately)

Is able to paint 'designs' on paper.
Is able to feed himself without messing and drinks without spilling.
Able to mould clay into balls, cakes and strips and is able to name his products.
Loves to build easy puzzles.
Hands are able to move away from the activity while the eyes remain on the task.
Can draw in circular movements.
Can string beads correctly.
Moves his eyes up and down the block tower that was built, inspecting it.
Build a 'train' of ten blocks and adds a chimney.
Is able to move eyes from a model to his task and back again to the model while his hands are waiting for the next move.
Can build a bridge using blocks; without the centre block falling off.
Starts brushing own teeth (with supersvision).
Washes and dries hands independently.

FOUR YEARS (approximately)

Can button up his own buttons.
Is able to tie shoe laces.
Enjoys cutting on a line with a pair of scissors.
Strings small beads, in a specific coloured sequence, without dropping beads.
Is able to draw a square using crayons.
Loves to print letters and even prints his own name.
Enjoys colouring in.
Can cut pictures out and paste them onto paper.
Brushes his teeth independently.
Washes and dries hands and face.
Likes to dish out his own food up.
Can talk and eat at the same time.

Click here to play a FINE MOTOR SKILLS game with your child

		Is able to paint 'designs' on paper.
		Is able to feed himself without messing and drinks without spilling.
		Able to mould clay into balls, cakes and strips and is able to name his products.
		Loves to build easy puzzles.
		Hands are able to move away from the activity while the eyes remain on the task.
		Can draw in circular movements.
		Can string beads correctly.
		Moves his eyes up and down the block tower that was built, inspecting it.
		Build a 'train' of ten blocks and adds a chimney.
		Is able to move eyes from a model to his task and back again to the model while his hands are waiting for the next move.
		Can build a bridge using blocks; without the centre block falling off.
		Starts brushing own teeth (with supersvision).
		Washes and dries hands independently.

		Can button up his own buttons.
		Is able to tie shoe laces.
		Enjoys cutting on a line with a pair of scissors.
		Strings small beads, in a specific coloured sequence, without dropping beads.
		Is able to draw a square using crayons.
		Loves to print letters and even prints his own name.
		Enjoys colouring in.
		Can cut pictures out and paste them onto paper.
		Brushes his teeth independently.
		Washes and dries hands and face.
		Likes to dish out his own food up.
		Can talk and eat at the same time.