17.1.1: Motor Skills

Learning Objectives

1. Describe how neurological, physical, and cognitive development during middle childhood contributes to improvements in fine and gross motor skills.
2. Explain how these advancements support academic success, physical activity, and social participation.
3. Identify physical development milestones by age for school age children.

During middle childhood, children undergo notable refinement in both fine and gross motor skills. Fine motor skills involve small, precise movements, while gross motor skills involve larger movements. As muscle mass increases and bones continue to grow and strengthen, children gain greater strength, balance, and control in their physical movements.

Improvements in motor skills during middle childhood are due to several key developmental processes.

1. First, neurological growth enhances coordination and reaction times. Increased myelination during this stage enables faster communication between the brain and muscles, allowing for more fluid and deliberate movement.
2. Second, physical changes in the muscular and skeletal systems enable children to develop the strength and endurance necessary for participating in more complex motor tasks.
3. Third, repeated practice through school, sports, hobbies, and daily routines leads to increased motor competence.
4. Finally, cognitive development supports planning, sequencing, and focusing on tasks that involve physical coordination, such as sports, crafts, and keyboarding.

As children gain more control over their bodies, they become more capable of managing everyday tasks and school activities. Fine motor development is crucial for academic success, as it directly impacts writing and the use of tools and classroom materials. Gross motor development supports physical play and participation in sports, which are essential for both physical health and socialization.

Milestones

The following table outlines typical fine and gross motor milestones for children between the ages of 5 and 11, broken down by grade level. These milestones serve as general guidelines, and individual children may develop skills at different rates.

Table \(\PageIndex{1}\). Fine and Gross Motor Skills by Age

Age/Grade	Fine Motor Skills	Gross Motor Skills
5-6 years	- Can copy basic shapes and letters - Begins to tie shoes - Uses utensils with improving control	- Runs, jumps, and skips with better coordination - Begins to balance on one foot - Rides a tricycle or two-wheeled bike with training wheels
6-7 years	- Writes more clearly and neatly - Uses scissors with control - Can manipulate small objects like buttons and zippers independently	- Improves balance and agility - Throws and catches a ball with better accuracy - Begins to show form in sports (e.g., dribbling, swinging a bat)
7-8 years	- Forms letters and numbers with uniform size - Can use a ruler and glue small items neatly - Completes increasingly detailed drawings	- Can skip, gallop, and run smoothly - Begins to coordinate movements in team sports - Increases endurance and stamina
8-9 years	- Uses cursive or joined writing (if taught) - Can type slowly on a keyboard - Performs more complex craft or building tasks	- Displays better control over speed, direction, and strength - Can ride a two-wheeled bike confidently - Shows refined skills in physical education or playground games
9-10 years	- Writes longer, neater paragraphs - Assembles model kits or builds with precision - Keyboarding skills improve	- Jumps rope rhythmically - Participates more competitively in sports - Improved hand-eye and foot-eye coordination
10-11 years	- Writes quickly and legibly for extended time - Uses tools like compasses or protractors in school tasks - Demonstrates creative expression through art, music, or cooking	- Coordinates body movements in complex sports or dance - Practices strategy and timing in physical play - Shows consistent strength, balance, and rhythm