Direct links exist between postural control and fine motor skills due to neuromotor pathways that activate when heavy work is used. The links include attention and control of movement for the muscles that move the eyes (i.e. reading) and those that move the hands (i.e. writing or keyboarding). Postural control is an essential ingredient needed for successful eye hand coordination skills. When the
The Visual Component The ability to use vision to guide the sequencing of motor output is a defining point in the development of fine motor competency. Acquisition of this skill allows for use of tools for self care, including utensils as well as grooming aids such as combs for hair care and razors for shaving. A growing child will also need to learn to
The Motor Component combines visual guidance with hand function skills Fine motor skills develop throughout infancy and continue to develop through the teen years. Initial developmental skills with hand function are directed toward success with: simple grasp patterns the ability to separate fingers for object manipulation the ability to use both hands together During the preschool years, grasp patterns mature to include recruiting vision
Using food crafts to help develop precision in fine motor skills The skills needed to coordinate small muscles of the body, such as the muscles of the fingers, eyes, and ears take the longest time to mature. Synchronization of these smallest muscles requires sustained attention, along with the ability to remember little details about the actions of these muscles. The ability to pull together
Many children who have Sensory Processing Disorders, also have deficits in prerequisites for efficient emergence of fine motor skills: Executive Functions Attention Task organization Task maintenance behaviors / sustaining focus Initiating/terminating activities Postural control coordinating muscles that control posture Ocular motor control coordinating muscles that control the eye balls Developmental Prehension Coordinating muscles that control hand and finger moves Getting all of these domains