 | ||
|
| |    Growing Hands: Fine Motor Development by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. "As soon as they are born, some babies can put their thumbs or fingers in their mouths any time they want to. Ultrasound examinations during pregnancy show they were probably doing it prior to delivery. But most can't get even their hands to their mouths with any regularity until they are two or three months old. And because their fists are still clenched tight, it usually takes them longer still to get hold of a thumb separately. But at about two or three months, many babies will spend hours just looking at their hands, bringing them up until, surprised, they bang themselves in the nose--only to stretch their arms out and start all over again. This is the beginning of eye-hand coordination, which has been important for human survival since man first stood on his two feet." - Benjamin Spock, Baby and Child Care, seventh edition If you hear a doctor talk about "fine motor development," she's referring to the baby's growing control over the muscles that regulate the small, or fine, movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists. A short list of common fine-motor activities, roughly in developmental order, would include: - Grasping and (just as important) letting go - Turning objects around in his hand - Picking up smaller and smaller things - Stacking blocks, threading beads - Holding a crayon and drawing - Snaps, buttons, and zippers - Cutting with scissors - Tying shoes Patterns of development There is a predictable pattern to hand coordination. At four months, a baby can hold a block for a short time using his whole palm. Gradually, the block moves over toward the thumb side of the hand, and by eight or nine months, the baby uses just the thumb and first finger (also known as the forefinger)-a more efficient and accurate way to handle objects. Try it yourself. Hold a block using the pinky side of your palm, and try to pass it over to the other hand, or stack blocks one on top of another. It's pretty hard. Early on, fingers all work together as one unit. Until they're able to move independently, tying shoes is a real challenge. There is also a tendency for one hand to mimic what the other is doing. Again, as with most examples of childhood development, increasing ability brings growing independence and greater flexibility. Connections Of course, fine-motor development is puttering along at the same time as your child is making important developmental strides in other areas. In a baby, everything connects with everything else. To see these connections in action, all you have to do is watch an eight-month-old baby pick up a toy. First, the baby has to see the toy (visual development). She has to find it interesting (cognitive development); the concentrated look on her face shows her focused attention and her expectation that she will be able to succeed (emotional development). Once she's decided to go for it, she has to hold her trunk and shoulder steady, then extend one arm, while adjusting her balance so she doesn't topple over (gross motor skills). Finally, her fingers open and close around the toy (fine motor). As she holds the toy up for her mom to see, the look of triumph on her face reveals the social and emotional rewards that drive this concentrated effort.
| |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About Us |
Contact Us |
Our Partners Privacy Policy | Ethics | Advertising Policy | Terms of Service © Copyright 2004 The Dr. Spock Company. All Rights Reserved. THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information drSpock.com
provides is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your health care
professional if you have a specific health concern. Mention or advertisement
of any product, service, or brand does not constitute endorsement, guarantee,
or recommendation by The Dr. Spock Company. Please read our full
Terms of Service. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
