Jewellery Making: Improves Fine Motor Skills

Hi again... 🙂

There are so many ways in which Jewellery making can improve fine motor skills and Visual motor skills that I have to split the two posts up. Visual perceptual skills will have to wait until next week. Sometimes it's the little things that we take for granted that have the biggest impact on our children and loved ones and it is safe to say that this is the same for jewellery making.

There are so many opportunities for individuals to improve motor when jewellery making it's amazing!!!

Lets start with fine motor skills:
So... threading beads can help to strengthen the small muscles in a child's hand, especially as they grasp different shaped and sized beads. They will use various hand movement, depending on the size of the bead. For example, smaller beads will be picked up using a pincer grip (using the thumb and finger), whilst larger beads will be picked up using a palmer grip (full hand grasp). Using a bead tray to layout the beads provides even more opportunity to improve fine motor skills. Reaching for a bead, picking it up and then rotating it to thread it, all use different hand movements. The benefit of developing fine motor skills through jewellery making is that it is similar hand movements to gripping a large pencil.
Jewellery making will help children get used to this action at an early age, helping them to hold a pencil when they start colouring or writing in school.

If they are learning about wire and how to manipulate it to create swirls and shapes for their pieces of jewellery this also provides opportunities to use fine motor skills at an even finer level. You may think this is far too difficult for my child but you will be amazed at what they come up with! Its absolutely amazing.

As an extra point... not only can you get different size and shape beads, you can also get different textured beads including chewable beads for people with Autism or Sensory needs.... but more on that another day.

As you can see, there are many things that can and will help your child or loved one develop, maintain or even improve their fine motor skills for now and in the future.
This relates not only to children but too people of all ages with additional needs and not forgetting our seniors.


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