5 Motor Skills You Need to Target for School Readiness Success to Improve Fine Motor Development, Handwriting and School Participation

Starting school is a big step, and it’s about more than recognising letters and numbers. At Moving Mountains Village, we know that strong motor skills help children feel confident and capable in the classroom, in the playground and at their desk.

When children haven’t yet developed foundation motor skills for kindy, they may struggle to keep up with classroom routines, tire quickly during writing tasks, or feel frustrated by activities their peers find easy. This can impact not only their academic progress, but also their confidence and willingness to participate.

Motor skills help children take part in everyday activities at kindy and school. Fine motor skills use the small muscles of the hands and fingers for tasks such as drawing, using tools, managing fasteners and beginning handwriting. Gross motor skills support movement, balance and coordination. Children develop at different rates, and practising these skills through play and daily routines can help them build confidence and independence.

Fine motor control and hand-eye coordination are involved in many classroom activities, including drawing, using scissors, handling small learning materials and practising handwriting. If these tasks are difficult, an occupational therapist can work with a child and family to understand what is getting in the way and identify meaningful goals. Support may include playful practice, adapting tools or activities, and collaborating with school staff where appropriate. Progress varies for each child, so therapy should be guided by the child’s needs rather than a promised result.

Here are five essential motor skills we recommend building before your child starts school:

1. Core Strength and Postural Control

Sitting still on the floor or at a desk takes more effort than we realise. Core muscles help children sit upright without tiring, which supports attention, coordination and handwriting. A strong core makes it easier for children to use their arms and hands with control while writing. If postural strength is lacking, children may slouch, lean on their arms, or shift their position. Try activities like animal walks, crawling through tunnels, climbing at the park or wheelbarrow walks to build strength in a fun and playful way.

2. Hand and Finger Strength

Strong hands and fingers are key for writing, cutting, opening lunch boxes and using zippers. When children lack strength in these small muscles, they may grip their pencil too tightly, fatigue quickly or avoid drawing and writing altogether. Encourage activities that build these muscles, such as playdough, tweezers, tongs, squeezing spray bottles, scrunching paper or tearing and cutting craft materials.

3. Bilateral Coordination

Bilateral coordination means using both sides of the body together in a smooth and organised way. This is essential for tasks like cutting with scissors (one hand cuts while the other holds) or holding a page still while writing. Children with poor bilateral coordination may struggle to keep their work steady, resulting in messy writing and reduced independence. Try threading, rolling and cutting with playdough, playing catch or popping bubbles with two hands.

4. Hand-Eye Coordination

From catching a ball to placing puzzle pieces, hand-eye coordination helps children navigate both learning and play. In the classroom, this skill is used when copying from the board, organising letters on a page or placing objects with precision. Practice with balloon volleyball, bean bag toss, block building or lacing cards helps develop this skill in a fun and engaging way.

5. Fine Motor Control and Pencil Grasp

Before writing, children need to develop control in their fingers and hands for drawing, colouring and eventually writing letters. Without well developed fine motor control, children may struggle to form letters, keep them within the lines or write at a pace that matches classroom demands. Practise using different drawing tools such as different shaped crayons, and pencils and textas of varying thickness to help support pencil grasp development. Encourage activities like dot-to-dots, mazes and name tracing to support pencil control and precision.

Why Motor Skills Matter
Motor skills do more than support handwriting. They help children participate in daily routines, build independence and feel confident in their abilities. Without foundational motor skills, writing can become tiring and frustrating, affecting academic progress and classroom engagement.

At Moving Mountains Village, our occupational therapists support families with school readiness by helping build these essential skills through playful, developmentally appropriate therapy.

If you would like to learn more about how we can support your child’s transition to school, reach out to our team at hello@movingmountainsvillage.com.au