As a parent, it is important to keep supporting and encouraging our child’s growth. At this age, babies can manipulate objects and toys. Child now uses thumb and pointer finger to pick up tiny objects and the child now releases objects into a container with a large opening.
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What are Fine Motor Skills?
Fine Motor Skills are movements that involves the smaller muscles groups such as the hand, fingers, and wrist.
Why are Fine Motor Important?
Fine Motor skills are important in the child’s growth and independence. This motor skill is developed after birth and progress as the child grows. It is important for this skill to develop to do daily task. Such as feeding themselves and playing with their toys. As the child grows the fine motor skills are important for their writing, buttoning and zippering their own clothes, and to self serve during meals.
Fine Motor Skills 9-12 months
Nine to Ten-months-old may begin:
- to pick up objects using their pointer finger and thumb. Known as the pincer grasp
- picks up a small toy with only one hand
- picks up an object by using thumb and all of fingers in a raking motion
Ten to Eleven-months-old may begin:
- to pick up a small toy with the tips of his/her thumb and fingers (You should see a space between the toy and his palm.)
- put a small toy down, without dropping it, and then take his/her hand off the toy
Eleven to Twelve-months-old may begin:
- to throw a small ball with a forward arm motion
- help turn the pages of a book (You may lift a page for him/her to grasp.)
Fine Motor Activities
Activity: Crumple and Crinkle
Give your baby old paper, news paper, or the weekly ad to crinkle between his/her hands. See how the child likes the sound it makes when his/her hands crunch the paper. Child might also tear the paper and that’s okay!
Activity: Paper Collage
Tearing paper is fun and easy. Tearing paper helps your child to enhance his/her grip on the paper with his fingers, increases his/her hand strength. Give your baby colored construction paper. Model to the child how to tear the paper. Child will tear pieces of paper. With the pieces you can make a fun art collage.
Activity: Finger Foods
Give your baby puffs for snack. Child will pick up the puffs and bring them to thier mouth. Or just provide about any finger food that is safe to chew and safe size to give.
Mealtimes are the best fine motor learning experience. Let them explore and play as they use a pincer grasp to hold the pieces between their fingers.
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Activity: Books
Give your baby a book. Let child explore the book. Child will flip the pages of the book. Main key here is to let the child explore with books. And if you are reading the book to the child, sit child on your laps and show him/her how to flip pages. You can start by lifting a page and child will grasp the page. I recommend using hardcover books.
Activity: Pom-Pom Tube Drop
You will need assorted colored pom-poms and a paper towel roll or toilet paper roll. Model to the child how to put a pom-pom into the top and see it drop. Child will pick up the pom-pom and attempt to put the pom-pom into the top.
NOTE: Never leave your child unattended. Always supervise when doing the Activities.
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Note: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be screened for general development using standardized, validated tools at 9, 18, and 24 or 30 months and for autism at 18 and 24 months or whenever a parent or provider has a concern. Ask your child’s doctor about your child’s developmental screening.
If You’re Concerned – Act Early Tell your child’s doctor or nurse if you notice any signs of possible developmental delay for this age, and talk with someone in your community who is familiar with services for young children in your area, such as your state’s public early intervention program. For more information, visit “If You’re Concerned” web page or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
