Everything from using a touch screen to tap falling balloons to moving a mouse to click items develops this essential skill. Piggybacking on the mouse idea, hand-eye skills will also be developed by using computer accessories. Child development will dictate when they’re ready, usually around age 7, but some may be ready sooner. Moving and manipulating a mouse will help them to link small cursor movements with the movement in their hands and fingers. Students will learn to type eventually, but gaining strength and dexterity in individual fingers will help to speed that process along. Touch pads become even trickier when there are no visual cues. Using a mouse and clicking with a single finger may be the first digital skill students learn.

In our modern world a different set of fine skills is required. The only way to do this is through repeated practice. These carefully choreographed skills by smaller muscles must be practiced and fine-tuned. Gross motor skills develop in rough-and-tumble play and physical activities, but fine motor skills are different.