Do Good Fine Motor Skills In Young Children Mean They Will Do Better At School?
February 26, 2020
The advances in mobile devices and the increasing access to these devices by young children has led to the appearance of a new phenomenon.
Why are fine motor skills such a good predictor when it comes to doing well in school? It appears that the way the neurons are connected, learning processes based on personal experiences, and experiences gained inside the classroom all play a part. From a neurological point of view, the pre-frontal cortex controls both cognitive and fine motor-skills development. This is why children who have more developed fine motor skills in their pre-school years will end up having better performances in school. Children who develop these skills, with by drawing and attempting to write in their early years, will be able to focus better during classes. This is because children with better fine motor skills are more comfortable with the task of writing, for example, and are more capable of investing their resources into paying attention to what is happening around them. Therefore, they will absorb more of the information provided by the teacher and have better results in learning. After all, a child who already knows how to write down numbers will be able to learn how to count faster than a child who has to invest all of their energy and attention into learning how to write the numbers first.
So, if you are the parent of a young child or preparing to become a parent, do bear in mind that fine motor skills are more important than you may think. To develop your child's fine motor skills you should really encourage them to learn to use their hands with play-dough and other toys, as well as encouraging them to learn how to draw and write during the early years of childhood. Don’t let the child use mobile devices too much, and if a child does use these devices, offer them apps specifically created to develop these skills. Using mobile devices too much, even if it is for innocent games, can seriously impair a child’s fine motor skills. Which can translate into poor school performances later on.
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