They will be thrilled and extremely proud to be using technology just like older siblings and adults. Nothing can top early digital literacy and preschoolers are eager to soak up any real-world knowledge they can gain. The time they do spend should be in quality educational games that improve hand eye coordination. Preschoolers should have less than two hours of screen time per day. They are actually very effective in developing this specific type of coordinated movement and strengthen reaction time.

Any practice where their eyes and hands are working together is a great way to support motor development.Ĭomputer and video games often get a bad rap, but educational games are different. 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.

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