Decreased Fine Motor Skills

As a parent, you likely mark each developmental milestone in your child's life with a celebration, even if it's just an internal one. When your child reaches each milestone, it reassures you that he's healthy and on track with other children. Noticing a regression in an area such as fine motor skills doesn't necessarily mean there's a major problem with your child. Only 17 percent of children have a developmental or behavioral disorder and proper treatment helps many of these children progress normally. Checking with your doctor can help give you peace of mind and a plan of action.

  1. Don't Stress Too Quickly

    • When your child used to color and now becomes frustrated with the task, it's not necessarily a sign she has a developmental disorder. Children progress at their own paces and many change their favorite activities constantly as they grow. For example, what excites your child about play dough this week -- squishing it through her hands -- might make her feel yucky next week. Noticing a reversal in one or two areas of fine motor skills is unlikely to be a significant problem, but watch for signs of other regression.

    Medical Causes

    • A significant and sudden decrease in fine motor skills can signify a medical problem with your child, so always ask your pediatrician if you have concerns. If your child could catch a ball, draw shapes or letters with chalk, crayons and pencils, cut paper with scissors and sort different sizes of blocks with both hands, but then loses the ability to perform any of these activities, a medical problem might be the cause. Hydrocephalus, for example, is common after a traumatic event such as surgery or head injury and it can cause a decrease in fine motor skills. Commonly found in girls, Rett syndrome causes children to backtrack as well. Other medical causes include autism, cerebral palsy and attention deficit disorder.

    Non-Medical Causes

    • Non-medical reasons may also cause fine motor skill regression. For example, a lack of exercise could be the problem. Fine motor skills start with shoulder strength and coordination, so a sedentary lifestyle may affect your child's development. When your child doesn't practice fine motor skills daily, he could lose some dexterity in his fingers, but just temporarily.

    How to Help

    • If your pediatrician diagnoses your child with a medical reason for decreased fine motor skills, he might suggest physical therapy. To help your child develop the proper muscles at home, you can work on shoulder strength by lifting her legs while she does a wheelbarrow walk as part of your play time, get her up on the monkey bars or teach her how to make windmills with her arms. Grab some play dough or clay and create masterpieces together, making sure she squeezes it in her hand to develop strength. Encouraging her to draw pictures and write letters, even if it's with chalk in your driveway, also helps develop the right skills, as does stringing beads and sorting blocks by shapes or colors.

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