Peer-reviewed article
The Relation Between Fine Motor Skills and Executive Function in Two-Year-Old Children.
Rooney LJ, Claxton LJ ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined whether fine motor skills in two-year-old children are connected to executive function, which is important for behavior and health throughout life. Researchers tested 33 toddlers aged 25-35 months using standardized assessments of motor skills (grasping and visual-motor coordination) and executive function. Fine motor skills, particularly the ability to coordinate vision and hand movements, were significantly associated with executive functioning even after accounting for age differences. The findings suggest that developing fine motor skills in toddlers may support broader cognitive development.
Key points
- Fine motor skills were positively associated with executive function in 2-year-olds
- Visual motor integration remained significantly correlated with executive functioning when controlling for age
- Both grasping and visual motor integration significantly predicted executive functioning in regression analysis
- The coordination of visual and manual processes may play an independent role in early executive function development
Limitations
The study involved only 33 children and was exploratory in nature, so findings may not generalize to larger populations. The cross-sectional design cannot establish whether fine motor development causes improvements in executive function or vice versa.
Abstract
Cognitive processes such as executive function are associated with positive behavioral and health outcomes across the lifespan, highlighting the importance of identifying early predictors of executive functioning. During infancy and early childhood, the development of motor skills provides opportunities for action, exploration, and learning that may support emerging cognitive processes. The present exploratory study examined the relation between fine motor skills and executive function in 2-year-old children (N = 33; 13 girls and 20 boys; M = 31 months; age range = 25-35 months). Participants completed the fine motor subtests of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, assessing grasping and visual motor integration, and the Minnesota Executive Function Scale as a measure of executive functioning. Fine motor skills were positively associated with executive functioning; however, when controlling for age, only visual motor integration remained significantly correlated with executive functioning. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that both grasping and visual motor integration significantly predicted executive functioning after controlling for age. These findings suggest that fine motor skills, especially the coordination of visual and manual processes, may play an important role in early executive function development independent of age. Interventions that support fine motor development may therefore have the potential to confer broader benefits for executive functioning in toddlers.