<P> Motor skills are movements and actions of the bone structures . Typically, they are categorized into two groups: gross motor skills and fine motor skills . Gross motor skills are involved in movement and coordination of the arms, legs, and other large body parts and movements . They involve actions such as running, crawling and swimming . Fine motor skills are involved in smaller movements that occur in the wrists, hands, fingers, feet and toes . They involve smaller actions such as picking up objects between the thumb and finger, writing carefully, and even blinking . These two motor skills work together to provide coordination . </P> <P> Through each developmental stage of a child's life and throughout our lifetime motor skills gradually develop . They are first seen during a child's development stages: infancy, toddlerhood, preschool and school age . "Basic" fine motor skills gradually develop and are typically mastered between the ages of 6 - 12 in children . These skills will keep developing with age, practice and the increased use of muscles while playing sports, playing an instrument, using the computer, and writing . If deemed necessary, occupational therapy can help improve overall fine motor skills . </P> <P> The first motor skills, beginning from birth, are initially characterized by involuntary reflexes . The most notable involuntary reflex is the Darwinian reflex, a primitive reflex displayed in various newborn primates species . These involuntary muscle movements are temporary and often disappear after the first two months . After eight weeks, the infant will begin to voluntarily use their fingers to touch . However, their ability to grab objects is still undeveloped at this point . </P> <P> At two to five months the infant will begin to develop hand - eye coordination, and they will start reaching for and grasping objects . In this way, they improve their overall grasping skills . </P>

The concept of dexterity normally applies to humans