Why Are Motor Skills Important?

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Motor skills are used everyday throughout our lives. They help us move and do everything from lifting heavy items to typing on a keyboard. Motor skills and motor control begin developing after birth, and will progress as children grow.

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Having good motor control also helps children explore the world around them, which can help with many other areas of development.

Motor skills are broken up into two categories: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Mastering both are important for children’s growth and independence.

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Gross motor skills are movements related to large muscles such as legs, arms, and trunk.

Fine motor skills are movements involving smaller muscle groups such as those in the hand and wrist.