https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination Ideas for Fine-Motor Skills Development, Coordination, and Forming Letters & Symbols en-us 2018-08-26 07:11:39 UTC 2025-11-19 12:17:07 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Apple.png atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275356537 This resource offers a variety of ideas and tools for educators to provide children with to use and manipulate. This activity allows children to develop their small muscles in their fingers, strength, isolation and bilateral hand coordination which is important for tripod grasp development. Benbow (1999) suggests that making clay balls will target the arches of the hands and using plastic knife or pizza wheel would enhance diagonal arch development. In addition, it is an excellent activity for educators to facilitate, enquire, observe and assess child's developmental stage. Berk (1994) talks about Vygotsky's Scio-Cultural Theory, whereby children who communicates with mature members of the society learn to master activities.]]> 2018-08-26 07:24:58 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275356537 atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275358896 This resource is an app that offers hands and finger exercises. This app was developed by occupational therapists, hence it is also suitable for children or adults who require special guidance in handwriting readiness. It gets challenging as you progress to the next level. Digital technology plays a role in today's society. In fact, Saljo (2017) points out that the "rich terrain of chat apps and social media" encourages writing that is different from paper and pencil situation (p. 11).]]> 2018-08-26 08:36:54 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275358896 atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275361446 This resource offers different materials for cutting activity. According to Benbow (1999), cutting activity will refine motor separation in the hands. Noella and Scull (2017) states that "opportunities for fine motor development are important for the development of early writing as children learn to grasp writing tools" (p. 38). Educators can use the same activity with different materials as children master this technique. Cutting lines and curves give children the visual image of lines and curves in letters.]]> 2018-08-26 10:01:14 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275361446 atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275362320 This resource gives an idea for educators to use at their literacy centre. It is an open-ended play that encourages children to express themselves using loose materials. It allows children to form letters, symbols and drawings which are part of writing and representing. The process involves eye-hand coordination as children colour, trace, draw, line the parts and others. It also gives children the opportunity to develop a sense of dominant and recessive hand (Benbow, 1999). Kress (1996) states that children "make signs which reflect the meanings they want to convey" (p. 69). Furthermore, Noella and Scull (2017) emphasise that "educational  settings  should  be  rich  with  early  writing  opportunities" (p. 35).]]> 2018-08-26 10:28:29 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275362320 atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275362479 This resource allows educators to modify their worksheet. This simple activity helps children to practice their handwriting. At the same time, the repeated exposure to these letters allow children to gain orthographic knowledge, which helps in reading and writing. Clay (2005) points out that activity of writing name allows children to understand that letters in words need to be the same order on each occasion and that capital letters are placed at the beginning of significant and important words (as cited in Noella and Scull). Clark (2010) mentions that learning to recognise the letters in their name and to write their name provides children with a personal connection to writing (p. 10).]]> 2018-08-26 10:34:51 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275362479 atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275572865 This resource is a fine motor activity and a quiet activity for children to engage in. Benbow (1999) suggests "String the Straw" to refine wrist and thumb development.]]> 2018-08-27 15:30:08 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275572865 atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275589017 This resource is a YouTube video that gives examples of Fingerplay activities for educators to engage with children. Baker (1989) explains that Fingerplays are finger movements and it could "enhance coordination and motor skill" (p. 22). Benbow (1999) points out that Fingerplay songs like "Itsy bitsy spider" will allow the educator to observe and determine the child's motor development.]]> 2018-08-27 16:07:21 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275589017 atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275599349 This is a resource for educators to engage children in another form of paint activity. The dropper is a great tool for children to focus on their finger muscles and enhance pincer grip. Benbow (1999) suggests this activity in order to refine finger and wrist development. It would help children to control, gauge strength and pressure, which would be useful when children need to understand the amount of strength needed to draw or write.]]> 2018-08-27 16:31:48 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275599349 atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275810350 This resource gives several ideas for educators on Sand Play. Kress (1997) and Pahl (1999) state that "experiencing a range of activities is considered important for fostering mark making" (as cited in Crescenzi, Jewitt & Price, 2015). Coates and Coates and Goodnow (1977) points out that "drawing or mark making has long been acknowledged for its role in the development of fine motor skills, and as an important foundation for writing skill development" (as cited in Crescenzi, Jewitt & Price, 2015). Sand play involves both fine motor, gross motor and eye-hand coordination as children scoop, sift, pour, dig and others.]]> 2018-08-28 09:58:19 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275810350 atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275811442 This is an iPad app resource that allows educators to introduce and encourage children colouring and drawing. It may serve as an alternative for children with sensory processing disorder. According to Crescenzi, Jewitt and Price, "iPad environment involved more episodes of touch than the paint-paper" (2015). Crescenzi, Jewitt and Price also mention that "touch screen technologies offer several touch functions that include swiping, drag and drop, link clicking, as well as mark making" (2015), all of which involves coordination.]]> 2018-08-28 10:08:41 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/275811442 atmoira https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/276354421 4-minute video on my understanding on Writing and Representing.]]> 2018-08-29 18:04:55 UTC https://padlet.com/atmoira/fmscoordination/wish/276354421