Fine Motor & Gross Motor Skills

What are fine & gross motor skills?

Fine motor skills are the things we do using the small muscles in our hands such as doing buttons and zippers, writing, and using a fork and knife. Gross motor skills are the things we do using the large muscles in our body such as: running, jumping, throwing and catching.

When does a child need motor skills support?

Delays in motor skills can impact the ability to complete daily tasks and also impact a child’s self efficacy. This could look like:

• Challenges with dressing such as buttons, zippers and laces 

• Messy handwriting or fatiguing quickly with writing tasks 

• Difficulties learning new motor skills such as learning to ride a bike 

• Avoiding playing on playground equipment or participating in gym class 

• Delays in meeting motor milestones such as learning to roll, sit, crawl or walk

Why OT? 

First, the OT completes a clinical assessment to determine what may be underlying the motor delays (i.e. core strength, balance, motor planning, sensory processing). Based on the assessment, therapy sessions are designed to improve motor skills and build confidence.

Sessions will include fun activities such as putty, shaving cream, multisensory approaches to handwriting, exercises balls, swings and obstacle courses. Therapists use evidence based treatment approaches and curriculums such as neurodevelopmental treatment, sensory integration theory, and Handwriting Without Tears.