Fine motor skills are the small, precise movements we make with our hands and fingers and they play a big role in a child’s everyday life! From getting dressed in the morning to eating lunch, completing schoolwork, and playing with friends, these skills underpin so much of what children do each day.
When a child has difficulty with fine motor skills or manual dexterity, everyday tasks that other children manage with ease can become frustrating, time-consuming, or exhausting. This can affect a child’s confidence, independence, and their ability to fully participate in home, school, and social life.
Fine motor challenges can show up in many different ways. A child might struggle to fasten buttons or manage cutlery, tire quickly when writing, or find it hard to keep up with craft activities at school. Fine motor skills can be developed through targeted intervention and with the right support, children can make meaningful progress that carries through into everyday life.
Our Occupational Therapists take an individualised approach to fine motor development. We assess your child’s specific strengths and challenges, identify where difficulties are getting in the way, and work with your child in a purposeful and engaging way to build the skills they need.
We can support your child’s development across a wide range of daily tasks, including:
Doing up buttons and fastenings – building the dexterity and coordination needed for dressing independently.
Tying shoelaces – developing the sequencing, finger strength, and bilateral coordination this task requires.
Using cutlery – supporting your child to manage mealtimes with confidence and age-appropriate independence.
Drawing and cutting – developing pencil control, scissor skills, and the hand strength needed for creative and academic tasks.
Writing and typing – building the fine motor foundations that support legible handwriting and keyboard use.
Play skills – including activities such as threading beads, stacking blocks, and pasting, which develop hand-eye coordination, finger precision, and the ability to engage with play.
