motor skills

Definition

Motor skills are the ability to control and coordinate the movements of your body. They are essential for everyday activities, such as walking, running, eating, and dressing.

There are two main types of motor skills: gross motor skills and fine motor skills.

Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of your body, such as your arms and legs. They are used for activities such as running, jumping, and climbing.

Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of your hands and fingers. They are used for activities such as writing, drawing, and buttoning your clothes.

Motor skills develop gradually over time. Babies are born with reflexes, which are automatic movements that help them to survive. As babies grow, they learn to control their movements more and more. By the time they are adults, they have developed the motor skills they need to perform everyday activities.

How can the word be used?

The baby is developing her motor skills by crawling and grasping objects.

Different forms of the word

Noun: The ability to control the movements of one's body.

Adjective: Relating to motor skills.

Verb: To develop motor skills.

Etymology

The word "motor skills" is a compound word that is made up of the words "motor" and "skills." The word "motor" comes from the Latin word "mōtor," which means "mover." The word "skills" comes from the Old English word "scyld," which means "ability.".

The word "motor skills" was first used in English in the early 1900s to describe the abilities to control the movements of one's body. The word is now used to refer to a wide range of abilities, including gross motor skills (large muscle movements), fine motor skills (small muscle movements), and perceptual motor skills (the ability to use vision and touch to guide movement).

Question

What are motor skills?