Fine Motor Skills and Technology
The current and future generations are growing with the rapid growth of technology. The issue, is their fine motor skills being affected by the rise of technology?
I am a kindergarten teacher who has taught preschoolers for the last couple of years. You can assume a child’s upbringing when you start assessing their fine motor ability. Most children who are reliant on technology as a form of entertainment tend to have weaker motor skills than others. Children need to develop a wide variety of manipulatory skills, movement repertoires, and strength. Your child may be able to hold a phone with ease. However, when it comes to simple tasks such as opening a bag or holding a pencil, they may have great difficulty.
Fine motor skills is the involvement of small, precise movements that require control. Picking up things is an example. With how technology is dominating some children’s lives nowadays, they are not doing these movements to help develop their skills and sensors. A child starts to begin training their skills at a very young age, and will need practice and experimenting to help their progression and development.
An interesting article on how to develop your child’s fine motor skills: https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/physical/child-developing-motor-skills/
Table of Contents
Technology is Dominating
I grew up in the 90s, an era which the internet was still relatively new but not as accessible as today. For those older than myself, you probably had less interaction with technology than I did! We did not have the luxury or freedom to look up for information like today. Our learning came from experiences and we build up our motor skills through constant play.
The problem we face today is the accessibility and availability of technology and information. Our lives are dominated by it and it can cause various problems (for example, social anxiety). New parents of this generation can exploit technology as a means of occupying their child for long periods of time without much effort.
I have noticed more often that children who are travelling to school are using mobile devices to keep themselves occupied instead of exploring the world around them. Exploring aids the development of their senses and encourages active learning.
A few problems I have noticed with children who are too dependent on technology:
- Their fine motor skills take longer to develop and they are lazy with their actions
- Gross motor skills can be unpredictable at times due to uncontrollable actions
- Lack motivation and concentration
- Social problems
Advice
I advise all parents to limit children’s use when it comes to technology. If not controlled, it can become a problem. I highly, HIGHLY recommend that you do not allow your child to play or watch things on your phone ever. Don’t give them the idea that it is an option. If you want them to see a video, use a table device so they can associate watching videos with it. Being lazy and using technology as an ‘easy way’ to entertain your child will lead to slower progression and developmental problems.
Let your kids be kids, let them play! Allow them to explore, to figure what they enjoy and how something works. Let them build their imagination through the use of physical activities rather than a visual experience.
Fine motor skills and their relationship with technology needs to educated to parents. An article I highly recommend reading: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/too-much-technology-children-with-weak-hands
More articles on early childhood: http://www.mrgregenglish.com/category/education/early-childhood/
