Blocks, pictures, folding paper and GCSE results

We know the first five years of your child’s life lay the foundations for the rest of it. Last month, we saw new research by scientists at Birbeck, University of London and the University of Surrey that found toddlers’ fine motor skills were associated with GCSE results.^[1,2]

You have been tracking your child’s fine motor skills in the app, and you’ll know these involve controlling the movements of smaller muscles, such as those in our fingers and toes.

In this study, scientists used block building, drawing, folding paper and questionnaires completed by parents to assess children’s fine motor skills when they were two, three and four.

The researchers then looked at children’s GCSE results at age 16 . They found an association between scores on fine motor skills assessments when children were under five and educational achievement at the age of 16.

They suggest more research is needed, including to consider the role of genetics in fine motor skills and if there is a causal link between young children's skills and academic achievement.

Supporting your child’s fine motor skills

Professor Angelica Ronald of the University of Surrey, one of the authors of the study suggests that fine motor activities such as building with blocks and drawing might be viewed as ‘just playing’. While their study suggests these activities support future educational achievement, and suggests parents should be given blocks and drawing materials as well as free books.^[2]

You will find everything you need to support your child’s fine motor skills on the journey page of the app.

And remember gross and fine motor skills are closely linked so make sure your child has lots of time to move as this will help them master smaller movements too.

References:

[1] Bowler, A., Arichi, T., Fearon, P., Meaburn, E., Begum-Ali, J., Pascoe, G., Johnson, M.H., Jones, E.J. and Ronald, A., 2023. Phenotypic and genetic associations between preschool fine motor skills and later neurodevelopment, psychopathology, and educational achievement.

[2] Birbeck, University of London. 7 February 2024. Early drawing and building skills linked to enhanced education and behaviour in children. https://www.bbk.ac.uk/news/early-drawing-and-building-skills-linked-to-enhanced-education-and-behaviour-in-children

Blocks, pictures, folding paper and GCSE results

We know the first five years of your child’s life lay the foundations for the rest of it. Last month, we saw new research by scientists at Birbeck, University of London and the University of Surrey that found toddlers’ fine motor skills were associated with GCSE results.[1,2]

Supporting your child’s fine motor skills

We know the first five years of your child’s life lay the foundations for the rest of it. Last month, we saw new research by scientists at Birbeck, University of London and the University of Surrey that found toddlers’ fine motor skills were associated with GCSE results.^[1,2]