What are Fine Motor Skills?

Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the hands, wrists, and fingers. Children use them to write, draw, cut, dress, button, tie shoes, open containers, and participate in everyday play.

Does your child have difficulty with any of the following?

  • Holding a pencil or using a functional grasp

  • Scribbling without control or avoiding drawing

  • Difficulty with scissors

  • Trouble opening snacks or containers

  • Fatigue when writing

  • Messy handwriting or inconsistent letter size

  • Difficulty copying from the board or staying on the lines

  • Frustration around homework or writing tasks

How OTs Help

Our OTs complete a detailed fine motor and handwriting assessment, looking at grasp, strength, hand dominance, pencil control, posture, and visual-motor skills.

During therapy, we may use:

  • Handwriting Without Tears (HWT)

  • Pre-printing and printing programs

  • Strengthening activities

  • Visual perceptual activities

  • Scissor skill development and craft-based learning

  • Multisensory writing tools (chalk, sand, foam, playdough)

We tailor strategies to your child’s school environment and provide home activities to support carryover, confidence, and independence.

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