Editor's note: This is part two of a two-part series looking at the Fine Motor Olympics program currently being offered on the Sunshine Coast.
Fine Motor Olympics (FMO) is a structured program to assist both parents and preschool/daycare providers support their children to develop the hand skills necessary for school readiness.
Nine pre-schools and daycares throughout the Coast participated in this pilot program and excellent constructive feedback was received, to help us make changes for more success in the future.
Of the 31 children identified as having hand skill delays, the majority had both poor hand-muscle development and over-all strength. Strength is needed to stabilize the shoulder, wrist and hands for proper grasp and in-hand manipulation skills. In fact, a child needs to be able to support his/her weight for seven to 10 seconds in order to be ready for tool use. The best way to develop overall strength is through lots of outdoor play.
The training of early childhood educators is one area where improvements are needed. Instruction in hand development and the screening process was presented with some activity samples; the full kits with manuals and activity book were given at the end of two sessions. Future training sessions will reverse this order to include more hands-on use of the FMO kit and better discussion of how to put the program into practice.
The greatest initial success was where a "key" person was designated to review the material, teach the staff and run the program, and eventually all preschools and daycares adopted such model for their facilities. Most of the schools incorporated the activities into their curriculum, and set up a special table just for the program, although this was difficult for all schools, as the teacher/child ratio is often 1:8. An important part of the program was monthly visits by the occupational therapist. These visits were generally appreciated and crucial to help the schools better understand the program. Children identified with underdeveloped skills were supplied with take-home kits. Parents have contacted Bridges directly for support using these kits, and feedback has been positive. All participating schools feel the FMO program is a useful resource that they will use in the future. Although future funding is not certain, FMO provides an innovative approach to reaching the youngest members of our community who may need help to develop their hand skills as part of getting ready for school. For more information about Bridges (pediatric occupational therapy and physiotherapy) call 604-885-5881 local 243 or visit the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society website at www.sccss.ca.
