While every child will develop at their own pace, there are milestones that you expect them to hit by a certain age. Most children reach those milestones on their own through interaction with their parents and other caregivers and play and everyday activities. Some children, however, need a little extra support. There are many reasons for developmental delays, some we can identify and some we can’t. Whatever the reason, if you notice that your child is not hitting some developmental milestones, early intervention programs at Watch Me Shine can help.
Gross Motor vs. Fine Motor Skills
When talking about a child’s physical development, we often use the term motor skills. This refers to a child’s strength and control over their body. There are two types of motor skills, gross motor and fine motor. Gross motor skills are whole body movements; a child’s ability to walk, run, climb, and jump are all gross motor skills. Fine motor skills control the smaller muscles. Developing fine motor skills is how your child learns to feed and dress themselves, write, and manipulate small objects.
Early Intervention and Gross Motor
Every child is different, and at Watch Me Shine, we design an individual program to get your child where they need to be developmentally. For gross motor skills, early intervention can look like many different activities, depending on your child’s age and development level.
Many children with gross motor delays have low muscle tone. Our team will craft a program of exercises, activities, and games that encourage movement and strength that is best for your child. We will even show you how to continue at home to encourage progress outside of their time with us.
Develop Fine Motor Skills
As adults, we don’t think twice about writing, tieing our shoes, or picking up small objects. Even though we don’t remember, these are all skills we had to learn. These are also all fine motor skills: skills that use small muscles and require precision. A baby’s reflexive grasp is a fine motor movement, as is the pincer grasp that they should be able to do by nine or ten months old. Fine motor skills are essential for your child to learn to feed and dress themselves as well as learn to write and tie their shoes.
Children with delayed fine motor development benefit from occupational therapy as part of early intervention. Drawing, finger painting, and playing with playdough, putty, or clay all help develop and strengthen fine motor skills. Building blocks, doing puzzles, and even picking up and putting away their toys are all uses of fine motor skills, too. Fine motor skills are not just important for physical development. They are also crucial for cognitive development, independence, and self-esteem.
Early Intervention at Watch Me Shine
Watch Me Shine contracts with Child Development Services and MaineCare Offices of DHHS/OFCS to provide early intervention services to children and their families. Our specialists will craft individual plans so your child can reach their developmental milestones and learn and strengthen the skills they need.
