Monday, January 16, 2017

Effects of Tablet Use on Fine Motor Skills

Effects of Tablet Use on Fine Motor Skills

Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics published research on 80 children (mean age = 60.1 months) to determine the effects of touch-screen tablet use on the fine motor development of preschool children without developmental delay. The children were placed in two different groups.  One group of 40 children, who used a touch-screen tablet more 60 minutes per week for at least 1 month, received a 24-week home fine motor activity program using a touch-screen-tablet.  The other group of 40 children, matched for age and sex, who did not meet the criteria for previous tablet use received a 24-week program consisting of manual play activities.  Following the interventioin, the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency was used to measure motor skills.

Data analysis indicated the following:

  • pretest analysis showed no group differences in motor performance and pinch strength.
  • posttest scores showed children in the nontouch-screen-tablet group made significantly greater changes in fine motor precision, fine motor integration, and manual dexterity.

The researchers concluded using a touch screen tablet extensively might be disadvantageous for the fine motor development of preschool children.

Reference:  Ling-Yi Lin, Rong-Ju Cherng & Yung-Jung Chen.  Effect of Touch Screen Tablet Use on Fine Motor Development of Young Children.  Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics.  Published online: 10 Jan 2017.  http://ift.tt/2iD8Cgv

Hands First Fine Motor Curriculum

 

The Hands First! Fine Motor Curriculum is a new, comprehensive, evidenced based program backed by preliminary research that demonstrates its effectiveness in helping students gain in fine motor and fine motor foundation (gross motor) skills. Written for preschool, kindergarten and first grade students, this complete program can be utilized by both therapists and teaching staff. Kids love the activities! Administrators are impressed that the program is written as a curriculum that can be implemented by teaching staff. FIND OUT MORE.

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