Instructional Approaches in Early Childhood Education to Development Fine Motor Skills: A Qualitative Study
Keywords:
Fine motor skills, Early childhood education, Instructional ApproachesAbstract
Background of study: Fine motor development is a key component of early childhood growth, supporting tasks such as writing, cutting, and handling small objects. Limited stimulation during this period can lead to delays affecting academic readiness and self-confidence. At TK Anugerah, educational activities target holistic development—physical, emotional, and cognitive. Among these, fine motor development has received particular focus due to noticeable disparities among children aged 5–6 years.
Aims and scope of paper: This study aims to explore the development of fine motor skills through educational activities at TK Anugerah, located in Tanjung Jati, Kamal, Bangkalan. It focuses on how educators facilitate fine motor growth, assess current motor skill conditions, utilize instructional strategies and learning media, and perceive the importance of motor development in early childhood education.
Methods: This qualitative descriptive study using classroom observation and informal interviews with teaching staff. Data collection examined how activities were implemented, children’s motor skill conditions, and teacher responses to developmental challenges.
Results: Findings revealed that while most children demonstrated age-appropriate fine motor skills, some exhibited delays. Teachers responded with targeted stimulation using available materials such as beach sand, modeling clay, textured objects, and art activities like tearing paper and collage-making. Educators emphasized creativity and engaging media as crucial for effective learning.
Conclusion: Fine motor development in early childhood is shaped by teacher strategies, media use, and responsive interventions. At TK Anugerah, educators play a central role in designing meaningful learning experiences. Continued provision of creative materials and ongoing teacher training is recommended to optimize fine motor stimulation and support children’s holistic growth.
References
U. Hasanah, F. Kamila, W. Rika, and R. C. R. Khoirina, “Enhancing Children’s Creativity Through Art-Based Learning in Early Childhood: A Strategy to Stimulate Gross and Fine Motor Development,” Nak-Kanak: Journal of Child Research, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 17–22, Feb. 2025.
J. R. Maranatha and N. Briliany, “Enhancing Fine Motor Skills in Early Childhood Through Fun Cooking Activities: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Purwakarta, Indonesia,” Golden Age SCI J ECD, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 203–212, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.14421/jga.2023.84-01.
D. Nurjannah, “Peningkatan Motorik Halus Anak Melalui Kegiatan Bermain Papercraft (Penelitian Tindakan di TK Alam Rizkia, Depok),” Al-ATHFAL J EDUC CHILD, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 149–160, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.14421/al-athfal.2018.42-03.
G. K S, S. S. Reka, S. Keisuke, and P. Venugopal, “EMG controlled mobile robot equipped with gripper mechanism for fine motor skills training in rehabilitation,” Results in Engineering, vol. 26, p. 104563, Jun. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.104563.
S. M. Arabi and A. Saberi Kakhki, “Comparing the effects of fine, gross, and fine-gross motor exercises on the motor competence of 6–12 year-old autistic children: A quasi-experimental study with a follow-up test,” Acta Psychologica, vol. 254, p. 104842, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104842.
R. Harmon, M. Beerse, and D. C. Castellanos, “Association between fine motor function and fundamental cooking skills in preschool-aged children,” Human Movement Science, vol. 101, p. 103340, Jun. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2025.103340.
N.-H. Hwang, S.-S. Chen, T.-W. Pai, M. H.-J. Ko, Y.-L. Yu, and H.-J. Chen, “Automatic assessment of fine motor development in children through hand-drawn shape images,” Pediatrics & Neonatology, May 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2025.04.001.
H. Krombholz, “Gross and fine motor milestones in the first two years of life - representative data for Germany,” Global Pediatrics, vol. 12, p. 100254, Jun. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.gpeds.2025.100254.
K. Otten et al., “The maturation of infant and toddler visual cortex neural activity and associations with fine motor performance,” Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, vol. 71, p. 101501, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101501.
O. Surgent et al., “Sex Differences in the Striatal Contributions to Longitudinal Fine Motor Development in Autistic Children,” Biological Psychiatry, vol. 97, no. 12, pp. 1150–1162, Jun. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.01.005.
X. Yang, W. Zeng, S. Estrada, M. M. B. Breteler, and N. A. Aziz, “Association between brain structure and fine motor function: findings from the population-based Rhineland Study,” eBioMedicine, vol. 116, p. 105771, Jun. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.105771.
C. Herrmann, C. Heim, and H. Seelig, “Construct and correlates of basic motor competencies in primary school-aged children,” Journal of Sport and Health Science, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 63–70, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2017.04.002.
V. Gashaj, N. Oberer, F. W. Mast, and C. M. Roebers, “Individual differences in basic numerical skills: The role of executive functions and motor skills,” Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, vol. 182, pp. 187–195, Jun. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.jecp.2019.01.021.
R. R. Roy, S. J. Harkema, and V. R. Edgerton, “Basic Concepts of Activity-Based Interventions for Improved Recovery of Motor Function After Spinal Cord Injury,” Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol. 93, no. 9, pp. 1487–1497, Sep. 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.04.034.
J. S. Y. Tan and C. B. S. Lim, “The development of gross motor skills in children: Insights from the Motor Assessment Test for Children,” Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, vol. 256, p. 106255, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.jecp.2025.106255.
K. Otten et al., “The maturation of infant and toddler visual cortex neural activity and associations with fine motor performance,” Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, vol. 71, p. 101501, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101501.
H. Krombholz, “Gross and fine motor milestones in the first two years of life - representative data for Germany,” Global Pediatrics, vol. 12, p. 100254, Jun. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.gpeds.2025.100254.
R. Touali, J. Zerouaoui, E. M. Chakir, H. T. Bui, M. Leone, and M. Allisse, “Impact of a Sensorimotor Integration and Hyperstimulation Program on Global Motor Skills in Moroccan Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Exploratory Clinical Quasi-Experimental Study,” JMIR Form Res, vol. 9, p. e65767, Mar. 2025, doi: 10.2196/65767.
U. I. Møinichen et al., “Longitudinal assessments of motor performance and musculoskeletal abnormalities in preschool children with esophageal atresia,” Early Human Development, vol. 206, p. 106273, Jul. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106273.
S. Li, Y. Song, Q. Zhang, and Z. Wang, “Mediation of executive functions in the relationship between motor skills and psychosocial health in preschool children,” Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 167–174, Jul. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2025.04.002.
A. A. Utari and I. Yeni, “Pengaruh Tari Kreasi Terhadap Pengembangan Motorik Kasar Anak di Taman Kanak-kanak Kemala Bhayangkari 03 Alai,” JGA Ear Child E, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 57–62, Jun. 2020, doi: 10.14421/jga.2020.52-02.
E. Ermiyati, P. S. Rohmadheny, U. D. Rosada, and D. Hastuti, “Early Childhood Education Teachers’ Perspectives on Play-Based Learning: A Survey in Yogyakarta,” Golden Age SCI J ECD, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 291–300, Jun. 2023, doi: 10.14421/jga.2024.92-10.
Nursalim, A. Widodo, Y. D. Pristiani, V. Iswantiningtyas, and D. Y. Karisma, “Unveiling the Value of Pancasila Learning in Early Childhood: The Garuda Bird Puzzle Game Approach,” Golden Age SCI J ECD, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 721–732, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.14421/jga.2024.94-11.
I. Ayu Nuri Azizati and D. Nurhayati Adhani, “Flashcard Augmented Reality: Sebuah Media Menstimulasi Kemampuan Berpikir Simbolik Anak Usia Dini,” NAKKANAK SCI J ECD, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 29–36, Feb. 2024, doi: 10.21107/njcr.v1i1.48.
Y. Yuliana and M. Busyro Karim, “The Role of Single Fathers in the Moral Development of Children Aged 5-6 Years,” NAKKANAK SCI J ECD, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 10–18, Feb. 2024, doi: 10.21107/njcr.v1i1.47.
H. Wardani, M. Putri, D. Sugiyarti, I. Afsanti, and N. R. Utami, “Pengaruh Ekstrakurikuler Angklung Terhadap Kecerdasan Musikal Anak Usia Dini,” NAKKANAK SCI J ECD, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 19–28, Feb. 2024, doi: 10.21107/njcr.v1i1.51.
A. Kurlillah and T. Yuandana, “Efektivitas Kegiatan Ecoprint pada Anak Usia 5-6 Tahun: Stimulasi Peningkatkan Kreativitas Anak,” NAKKANAK SCI J ECD, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 135–143, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.21107/njcr.v1i4.75.
N. Hisamoto et al., “Deciduous teeth eruption, gross motor skills, and feeding in children with down syndrome: A cross-sectional study,” Pediatric Dental Journal, vol. 35, no. 1, p. 100339, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.pdj.2024.100339.
X. Ma, N. Yang, M. Huang, S. Zhan, H. Cao, and S. Jiang, “Relationships between gross motor skills, psychological resilience, executive function, and emotional regulation among Chinese rural preschoolers: A moderated mediation model,” Heliyon, vol. 10, no. 18, p. e38039, Sep. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38039.
M. B. Miles, A. M. Huberman, and J. Saldaña, Qualitative data analysis: a methods sourcebook, Fourth edition. Los Angeles London New Delhi Singapore Washington DC Melbourne: SAGE, 2020.
M. B. Miles, A. M. Huberman, and J. Saldaña, Qualitative data analysis: a methods sourcebook, Third edition. Thousand Oaks, Califorinia: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2014.
B. C. Conner, M. H. Schwartz, and Z. F. Lerner, “Pilot evaluation of changes in motor control after wearable robotic resistance training in children with cerebral palsy,” Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 126, p. 110601, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110601.
A. Iranfar, M. Soleymannejad, B. Moshiri, and H. D. Taghirad, “Natural Language Processing and soft data for motor skill assessment: A case study in surgical training simulations,” Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, vol. 264, p. 108686, Jun. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2025.108686.
J. Kisjes et al., “A systematic review of language and motor skills in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and developmental language disorder (DLD),” Research in Developmental Disabilities, vol. 161, p. 104994, Jun. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2025.104994.
J. Hoskens, I. Vandekerckhove, L. De Waele, H. Feys, N. Goemans, and K. Klingels, “How do fine and gross motor skills develop in preschool boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?,” Research in Developmental Disabilities, vol. 154, p. 104845, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104845.
L. M. Larson et al., “A Cross-Sectional Survey in Rural Bihar, India, Indicates That Nutritional Status, Diet, and Stimulation Are Associated with Motor and Mental Development in Young Children,” The Journal of Nutrition, vol. 147, no. 8, pp. 1578–1585, Aug. 2017, doi: 10.3945/jn.117.251231.
A. Domínguez et al., “Childhood exposure to outdoor air pollution in different microenvironments and cognitive and fine motor function in children from six European cohorts,” Environmental Research, vol. 247, p. 118174, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118174.
P. M. Gaum et al., “Adverse health effects of PCBs on fine motor performance – Analysis of a neurophysiological pathway in the HELPcB surveillance program,” NeuroToxicology, vol. 84, pp. 146–154, May 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.03.008.
P. H. Nguyen et al., “Preconception Micronutrient Supplementation with Iron and Folic Acid Compared with Folic Acid Alone Affects Linear Growth and Fine Motor Development at 2 Years of Age: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Vietnam,” The Journal of Nutrition, vol. 147, no. 8, pp. 1593–1601, Aug. 2017, doi: 10.3945/jn.117.250597.
D. H. Schunk and M. K. DiBenedetto, “Learning from a social cognitive theory perspective,” in International Encyclopedia of Education(Fourth Edition), Elsevier, 2023, pp. 22–35. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-818630-5.14004-7.
S. Herren et al., “Exergame (ExerG)-Based Physical-Cognitive Training for Rehabilitation in Adults With Motor and Balance Impairments: Usability Study,” JMIR Serious Games, vol. 13, pp. e66515–e66515, Feb. 2025, doi: 10.2196/66515.
