Graphomotor skills: what they are and how to help children to develop them.

Developing this skill during childhood is essential in order to learn well.

Writing is one of the most important human advances of all times. It allows us to transmit our knowledge and different data through time and space, to reproduce our thoughts and to convey them accurately to others. But the ability to read and write does not appear out of nowhere.

It is something we have to learn throughout our lives. As far as writing is concerned, it requires, in addition to the ability to symbolize, the ability to perform a series of movements. the ability to perform a series of precise movements; that is, graphomotor skills..

What is graphomotor skills?

Graphomotor skills are understood as the set of manual movements required and necessary to be able to write. These movements are included in fine motor development, the ability to move hands and fingers in a coordinated manner. Thus, graphomotor skills are a skill that requires a high level of precision and control, which must be acquired little by little.It is a skill that must be acquired little by little with practice throughout life.

It is an ability that requires the development and coordination of both motor and perceptual aspects. Graphomotor skills would have its beginning in the first infantile strokes, being necessary that little by little the minor manages to dominate the space and the instruments. It is essential that the child first learns the pincer movements and grasps smaller and smaller objects. and grasp smaller and smaller objects.

The correct development of graphomotor skills also implies the learning of elements that are not only graphic: differentiating between elements, having the ability to represent and being able to have an orientation with respect to directions are fundamental aspects in the development of writing skills.

As time goes by, these processes become more automated, which allows to deepen and improve the level of finesse and precision. the level of finesse and precision necessary for correct writing..

Development of this skill

As we have said, graphomotor skills do not appear out of nowhere: they require a complex learning process through which each of us learns to master the movements necessary for writing.

It could be considered that the first attempts at graphic expression begin around the age of one and a half years, when the first scribbles usually begin to appear.. The child acts rather by impulse and with total lack of control, without eye-hand coordination and using the whole arm.

Later, a little before the age of two, the child begins to use the elbow to make strokes (although still without eye-hand coordination) and to make circular scribbles. After that, the child will gradually increase control over wrist and hand strength, as well as to follow the movement of his hand with his eyes. The first independent strokes begin to appear.

From three years of age there is already an attempt to control the movement of the hand and coordinate it to make a directed stroke. The child is able to combine colors and can focus the movement in such a way that it does not go off the paper, in addition to trying to identify something in the drawing. Around the age of four, a pre-schematic stage begins, in which the child starts to make a drawing that symbolizes a specific element to be represented. That is to say, he/she draws a concrete element such as a house, a person or an animal, but he/she does it in a schematic way.

From this point until six years of age, we will be learning to add details to the previous elements. It would also enter a pre-syllabic stageIn this stage, pictorial drawings begin to be differentiated from strokes intended to represent letters or numbers.

Initially they are disorganized and separated from each other, but little by little they are organized and aligned in such a way that their reading is possible (although initially only the child himself would understand what it means).

After that, we enter a moment of syllabic writing, in which each letter begins to represent a specific syllable or phoneme.. Subsequently, as we improve the stroke and the ability to symbolize, there is a transition stage towards alphabetic writing, in which each letter eventually corresponds to a phoneme. As the years go by, the handwriting will improve and smaller and more precise letters can be made.

How can graphomotor skills be promoted?

Graphomotor skills are a fundamental ability to be able to write and draw, besides contributing to the increase of precision and manual ability to do different tasks. It is therefore advisable to to try to reinforce it through different activities. The practice of calligraphy can help, but the work in the graphomotor field does not only involve this type of activities but can also be approached from a more playful perspective.

Stimulates play behavior and the possibility of drawing.The use of colored pencils, not only with colored pencils but also with elements such as paint or sand is fundamental. But training graphomotor skills does not only involve painting and coloring, but also all those activities that require a certain level of fine motor skills.

Things like tying ribbons, construction games, plasticine, making folds, cutting with scissors or even throwing objects improve eye-hand coordination.. If the child enjoys it, playing a musical instrument (e.g. a flute or the piano) is also useful. Other games such as following a musical rhythm with clapping, symbolic and role playing and imitation of people, animals and objects (e.g. the movie game is often useful and fun) can also improve manual dexterity and thus enhance graphomotor skills.

But it is not only about the child doing things, but also valuing them. For this, family support is essential. Actively participating in this learning process and congratulating the child for his or her achievements will make the child feel more confident and valued. In addition, the fact of sharing with him moments in which these games and activities are seen as something positive and enjoyable are fundamental and can strengthen the maternal/faternal-filial union in addition to improving the predisposition towards writing and learning it.

Bibliographical references:

• Federación de Enseñanza de CCOO de Andalucía. (2011). Graphomotor skills in early childhood education. Topics for Education. Digital magazine for teaching professionals.
• Marchesi, A and Coll, C. (1991). Psychological Development and Education. Madrid. Alianza.