Fine motor skills are the ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands and wrists. They involve the use of the smaller muscles of the hands and fingers, and include activities like using pencils, scissors, construction with lego or duplo, doing up buttons, opening lunch boxes, and manipulating small objects. Fine motor skill efficiency significantly influences the quality of the task outcome as well as the speed of task performance. Efficient fine motor skills require a number of independent skills to work together to appropriately manipulate the object or perform the task.

Fine motor skills are different from gross motor skills, which refer to the larger muscles used for activities like running and jumping. The difference between gross and fine motor skills pertains to the muscles being used. Gross motor skills refer to the large muscles and fine motor skills refer to the smaller muscles.

Babies and toddlers need a lot of playtime and practice to develop the small muscles needed for fine motor control. Fine motor skills are essential for performing everyday skills as well academic skills. Without the ability to complete these everyday tasks, a child’s self-esteem can suffer, their academic performance is compromised, and their play options are very limited. Children use fine motor skills during play, including activities like stacking blocks, stringing beads, working puzzles, dressing dolls, playing with puppets, and building with Legos or other construction toys.

Fine motor skills develop over time, and there are developmental milestones that children should demonstrate between the ages of 0-2 years. If a child is regularly missing developmental milestones, occupational therapy can address challenges related to fine motor skills.