Have you ever witnessed some kids performing everyday tasks so efficiently, while other kids do not? Well, you might think it’s god-gifted or some children are smarter by birth. But, this is not the case.
These everyday tasks like walking, grasping, and running, which might seem simple need practice and time Some skills get developed automatically in a child with age and time, but some have to be learned and practiced. These small actions are known as motor skills.
Motor skills play a key role in a child’s healthy development and growth, and understanding the types of motor skills is also important, as each type of motor skill helps us to be aware of how a child learns, adapts, and masters their body movements. Knowing what are examples of motor skills will clarify their impacts on our daily life activities and chores.
So, let’s dive first into the different types of motor skills.
Different Types of Motor Skills:
From simple basic movements to complex large body movements, different types of motor skills play an important role in our ability to perform daily life tasks. There are primarily 2 kinds of motor skills:
- Fine Motor skills
- Gross Motor skills
1. Fine Motor Skills:
Fine motor skills are tasks that require precision and practice, requiring only small movements done through using hand and fingers. For instance, writing, buttoning a shirt or crafting. Fine motor skills are necessary to perform daily intricate tasks and living activities and only get polished with consistent practice.
Types of Fine Motor Skills:
Types of fine motor skills include various everyday complex tasks. These tasks need practice to master and perform them. Some of the fine motor skills examples are:
Writing
Cutting with a knife or scissors
Typing
Folding Clothes
Solving puzzle
Threading beads
Drawing
Buttoning a shirt
Playing an instrument
Needlework
2. Gross Motor Skills:
Now comes the 2nd type of motor skill: Gross Motor Skills.
Gross Motor Skills are everyday tasks that require large body muscle movements and develop in a child automatically as he grows. The list of motor skills that require large muscle movements is running, walking, throwing, catching, jumping, etc. Gross motor skills are important for physical activity or engaging in any sport, and play a key role in balance, coordination, and strength.
Types of Gross Motor Skills:
As gross motor skills require larger muscle movements, they are the foundation of most physical abilities. Gross motor skills are important to keep your body strong and fit. Here are the following types of gross motor skills:
Walking
Running
Jumping
Throwing
Catching
Swimming
Crawling
Sitting
Climbing
Kicking
What is the Difference Between Fine and Gross Motor Skills:
It is quite important to understand the difference between each type of motor skill to understand better what role they play in our daily lives. The differences between fine and gross motor skills are:
Movements:
Fine motor skills require small, precise movements using only hands and fingers.
Gross motor skills require large muscular movements using arms, legs, or the whole body.
Purpose:
Fine motor skills are important for tasks that require accuracy, intricacy, and practice.
Gross motor skills are important for everyday tasks that require physical strength and power.
Examples:
Fine motor skills examples involve writing, drawing, buttoning a shirt, etc.
Gross motor skills examples involve walking, running, jumping, etc.
WonderGames: A Proven and Engaging Way of Improving Motor Skills:
WonderTree, through our innovative and interactive games, offers a creative and engaging way of improving motor skills, especially in children with special needs. Our online games are specifically designed to enhance various skills in children with special needs, along with improved motor skills. Through our games, children get to learn and practice both sine and gross motor skills in a fun environment. We have multiple games available on our website for children with special needs, that target the weaker areas and aim to enhance and improve it.
So the children can learn in their own unique way, experience it, and thrive at their own pace.
Here is the list of WonderTree games that specifically improve the motor skills of children with special needs:
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the 5 basic motor skills?
The 5 basic motor skills include walking, running, jumping, throwing, and catching. These motor skills are essential for physical development.
How many motor types are there?
There are primarily 2 types of motor skills: fine motor and gross motor skills. Fine motor skill involves small movements like writing, and buttoning whereas Gross motor skills include large body movements like walking, jumping, running, etc. Each type of motor skill plays a crucial role in performing our daily life tasks and activities.
What are the different types of motor learning?
Motor learning includes 3 stages: Cognitive, Associative, and Autonomous. The cognitive stage refers to the understanding of the task, the associative stages involve refining the movement, and the autonomous stage is performing the task automatically.
What are specialized motor skills?
Specialized motor skills refer to the task-specific abilities that build on basic motor skills, but more practice and learning are required to perform that like swimming, playing a musical instrument, singing, or playing sports.
What is the specificity of motor skills?
The specificity of motor skills refers to the idea that every motor skill is unique and task-specific, and consistent practice can improve the performance of that specific task or activity.
What is normal motor skills?
Normal motor skills are age-appropriate abilities in movement and coordination that develop in a child with age as they grow like walking, grasping, running, etc.
What are motor skills in child development?
Motor skills in child development are the abilities that allow children to control their body and movements, explore the surroundings, and engage in play and games, developing a sense of independence in them.
