Question

Distinguish between gross motor skills and fine motor skills by giving an example of each. Describe how each set of these skills develops across the developmental stages from 0-5 years of age.

Answer 1

• Motor skills are motions carried out when the brain, nervous system, and muscles work together. Fine motor skills are small movements, such as picking up small objectsand holding a spoon that use the small muscles of the fingers, toes, wrists, lips, and tongue. Gross motor skills are the bigger movements ,such as rolling over and sitting that use the large muscles in the arms, legs, torso, and feet.
• Gross motor skills are larger movements the baby makes with his arms, legs, feet, or his entire body. So crawling, running, and jumping are gross motor skills.
• Fine motor skills are smaller actions. When the baby picks things up between his finger and thumb, or wriggles his toes in the sand, he’s using his fine motor skills. But it’s not just about fingers and toes. When the baby uses his lips and tongue to taste and feel objects he’s using fine motor skills, too.
• When a baby is newborn, his brain is not mature enough to control skilled movement. Development starts at his head, and then moves down his body. So the newborn baby can control his mouth, face, lips and tongue, with the rest following in time.
• The baby learns to control his neck before his shoulders, and his shoulders before his back.The baby can control his arms before his hands, and control his hands before his fingers.
• In any area of the baby’s body, his gross motor skills develop before his fine motor skills. So he’ll be able to bring his arms together before he learns how to pass a toy from hand to hand.
• Gross Motor Skills: Birth to 5 years:-These skills also relate to body awareness, reaction speed, balance and strength.
• 3-4 months
• Can raise head when pulled to sitting position
• 4 months
• Rolls from back to side
• 5 months
• Rolls from back to front
• 6 months
• Can raise chest and upper part of abdomen (when on stomach)
• 7 months
• Can bear weight on one hand while exploring with the other hand (when on stomach)
• 6-7 months
• Sits alone
• 8-10 months
• Crawls
• 10-11 months
• Cruises around furniture
• 9-12 months
• Reaches actively for toy (when in sitting position)
• 11-12 months
• Pulls to a standing position
• 15 months
• Walks alone well
• Squats and stands back up
• Walks up and down steps holding hand
• 18 months
• Can run, though falls easily
• 2 years
• Walks and runs fairly well
• Can jump with both feet
• Can climb stairs without support
• Can kick a ball
• 3 years
• Can balance on one foot for a few seconds
• Can broad jump 10-24 inches
• Can catch a large ball
• By 4 years
• Can run, jump and climb well, is beginning to skip
• Hops proficiently on one foot
• Catches a ball reliably
• Can ride a tricycle
• Begins somersaults
• By 5 years
• Can skip on alternate feet and jump rope
• Beginning to skate and swim
• Climbing well
• Fine Motor Skills: Birth to 5 years:-Generally thought of as the movement and use of hands and upper extremities, fine motor skills include reaching, grasping and manipulating objects with your hands.
• 3 months
• Holds small object in hand (without thumb tucked in hand)
• 5 months
• Reaches for toy
• Briefly holds toy
• 6 months
• Follows objects with eyes in all directions
• 7 months
• Transfers objects from one hand to the other
• 8 months
• Keeps hands open and relaxed most of the time
• Starting to have ability to pick up small foods, like Cheerios
• 10 months
• Able to release an object voluntarily
• Gives toy to caregiver when asked
• 14 months
• Likes to explore, turn pages of cardboard books
• 15 months
• Puts objects/toys in a container
• 16 months
• Uses both hands to play
• Points at objects with index finger
• Can isolate index finger with other fingers closed
• 17 months
• Can build a block tower using 3-4 blocks
• 2-3 years
• Likes to draw; holds crayon with fingers
• Able to imitate designs like a circle or a cross
• Has hand control to build block towers
• Can string beads on a shoelace
• 3 years
• Able to make a Cheerio or macaroni necklace
• Beginning with scissor skills
• 4 years
• Scissor skills show improvement - Able to cut simple shapes
• Able to do simple puzzles (6-10 pieces)
• 5 years
• Able to draw, paint and color (can draw a person with all body parts)
• Learning printing & cursive handwriting
• Can button and unbutton
• Develops good finger skills
• Able to place small objects (e.g., 1/4 inch beads) in a bottle quickly
• Starting to work with other mediums for art like clay, paper mache, etc.
• Likes video games and computer activities