Preschoolers can be between the age of three to five. At this stage, their brains and muscles are more adapt at gross motor skills, such as standing and walking. Therefore, in preschool fine motor skills are targeted to help their brains and bodies develop. They will be faced with such tasks as learning how to handle silverware, how to draw letters and similar, more coordinated movements. According to the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC), by the age of three most children have already selected whether they are right- or left-handed.
Based on some loose measurement targets given by the JRank Psychology Encyclopedia, by the age of three your child should be able to use a pencil well enough to make a circle, and by four be able to make more shapes and some letters, cut with scissors, and practice writing his name in block letters. When in school at age five, he should have the skills needed to draw parts of the face, trace, cut, and paste outlines,and tie his shoes or at least make a bow.
The NCAC also gives several examples of activities that promote the development of fine motor skills while at the same time engaging your child. She can sort activities with tweezers and tongs, instruments that require more precise hand/eye movements and coordination. You can also provide play dough and give your child plastic utensils, straws or baking devices to explore with the play dough. She can also work with chalkboards or pegboards.
Several tests are used to measure a child's fine motor skills. While not 100 percent accurate, they can be used as a possible guide. One such test is the Peabody Development Motor Skills Assessment, which rates where your child is developmentally with his fine motor skills as well as other skills, and provides courses of action if delays or struggle points are noticed.
If you notice that your preschooler is not at the level needed and appears to be struggling, it is important to seek help early. Occupational therapists or similar professionals can be used to help decide what types of therapeutic exercises can be used to help your child reach the fine motor skills goals for her age group.