Fine Motor Control in Humans

Fine motor control in humans is a process that requires both time and practice. This type of motor control involves the coordinated use of the eyes, hands and sometimes feet to complete a desired task, such as buttoning a shirt or writing a letter. Any skill that requires the use of small movements in a precise manner falls in the realm of fine motor control.

Types

• During infancy, fine motor skills allow for the ability to grasp and coordinate eye movements. As babies grow, fine motor control aids in self-feeding skills, manipulating objects and coordinating the hands. During childhood, more advanced fine motor control allows for development of more complex skills such as drawing, writing, opening doors and complex movements of the feet, such as hopping, skipping and dancing.

Identification

• According to the National Library of Medicine, fine motor control involves coordination of movements of the muscular, skeletal and neurological systems to produce precise movements. Pediatricians identify the level of fine motor skills in children. This can help diagnose some developmental problems, including mental retardation and peripheral nerve dysfunction. Assessment of fine motor control skills often takes place during school readiness assessments and at regular well child visits.

Time Frame

• Development of fine motor control takes place as the neurological system matures during childhood. Practice, knowledge and time are required to build fine motor control, which takes years to develop, as are awareness and planning to complete a task. Humans complete development of their fine motor control by the age of 12.

Considerations

• Babies and children develop at different rates, and parents should not compare one baby's fine motor skills to those of another to determine a child's intelligence or abilities. Some children express more interest in fine motor activities, such as doing puzzles, working buttons or zippers or feeding themselves, than others do. Rather than teasing or scolding children who are uninterested in these skills, parents should encourage success with fine motor control and provide activities that the children enjoy doing.

Prevention/Solution

• The Ohio State University recommends activities to promote development and prevent further deterioration of fine motor skills in children and in people who have suffered neurological damage. These activities include crumpling paper, picking up small beans and putting them into a bowl or cup, using scissors to cut out shapes, stringing beads or macaroni, stacking blocks or coins, or bouncing a small ball and catching it. Children performing these activities require adult supervision, and adults might consider making a game or joining in with the child to make the experience more pleasurable.