Thick and fine motor development, also known as fine and gross motor skills, is related to the motor areas of the person, position and movement, which come into play.
The differences between gross and fine motor development reside in the areas involved. Gross motor It refers to changes in body position and the ability to maintain balance, that is, it implies the skillful use of the body as a whole and includes posture and mobility.
The fine motor area is related to fine coordinated movements between eyes and hands, involves the use of individual parts of the body, as we say especially the hands, but also other small muscle groups.
In the motor development of babies and children, milestones can be distinguished between gross and fine motor skills practically from birth.
We can say that gross motor development He is the first to make his appearance, from the moment the baby begins to hold his head. Sitting unsupported, crawling, walking, running, jumping, climbing stairs ... are other achievements of gross motor skills that, over the years, the child will acquire and learn.
For its part, fine motor development It becomes clear a little later, when the baby discovers the hands, moves them observing them and begins to try to take the objects and manipulate their environment. Fine motor skills will include tasks such as clapping, clamping ability, making towers of pieces, covering or uncovering objects, cutting with scissors ... until reaching very high levels of complexity.
The first capacities corresponding to gross and fine motor skills, if the baby does not have sensory or physical problems, are usually acquired simply in relation to the environment. However, we can act to facilitate certain achievements or teach others, through stimulation.
It does not mean that we should give him "classes" or lessons, just playing with them, talking to them, inventing new challenges together, We are contributing to the gross and fine motor development of babies and children, while having a good time and strengthening ties.
