You may have heard of motor skills, but you’re still unsure of what they are. No need to worry. We’ve broken down everything you need to know about the motor skills your child will be developing and why this is important for them. To find out more, keep reading!
What Are Motor Skills?
Motor skills is the general term given to skills that allow us to make our daily movements and complete the tasks we do everyday. Things like holding a pen, or holding a fork may not even cross our minds, but we aren’t born with these skills.
When it comes to your child, developing motor skills is essential for them to grow and develop their physical skills. The motor skills are broken down into two main categories.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are the kinds of skills that require a little more precision or care, sometimes called ‘hand and finger skills’. These could be movements in the hands, wrists, fingers, feet, lips and tongue.
As your child grows older, their fine motor skills will come into use with:
- Holding cutlery
- Holding pens and pencils
- Buttoning clothes
- Holding scissors
- Tying shoelaces
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills are different from fine motor skills, focusing on the larger movements that will help your child develop their muscles. This could include:
- Sitting up straight
- Walking/crawling
- Throwing a ball
- Kicking
- Moving their head/holding their head up
Gross motor skills are essential for your child’s development. As they start to crawl, walk and move around, they gain their first bit of independence. It is also important in letting them explore their surroundings on their own. As your child grows older, their gross motor skills like catching and throwing, and other movements, will start to become more coordinated.
So, Why Are Motor Skills Important?
Both types of motor skills are essential to your child’s development and ensuring that they can move independently. As they grow, they will be able to build on these skills, growing stronger and refining their movements as they learn to read, write and play with other children. The learning and improvement of these skills will help your child’s cognitive development massively.
Little Acorns Day Nursery
Putting your child into a reputable and nurturing day nursery or preschool can make all the difference to the development of their skills and abilities. Little Acorns Day Nursery is a safe space for your child to develop their skills in every aspect, engaging in social time with their peers too.
For further enquiries about what we do or how we can help your child, feel free to contact us today!