Motor skills in autistic children
Before you read
In this article, we share general information about some areas of development and the differences that might be seen in autistic children.
Every child with autism is unique and different. While they may share some similar traits, it’s important to know that each child will have their own learning styles, interests and preferences.
This information is designed to help you understand and support your autistic child. Always speak to their therapist/s before introducing any new strategies in the home.
Some of the strategies might be helpful for children without autism or without a diagnosis. We recommend speaking with your child’s early learning centre, your GP and/or your family network for more support.
What are motor skills?
Motor skills refer to our body’s ability to move and coordinate muscles to carry out different movements. Motor skills can be broken down into two main categories - gross motor skills and fine motor skills.
We develop our motor skills in a head-down and inside-out pattern. An example of this simply, is that children develop control over their heads before their arms, and their arms before their fingers.
Gross motor skills
This refers to the control needed to make our larger muscle groups work to achieve big movements. Gross motor movements require the physical movement and coordination of the whole body and are helped by our proprioceptive sense (perceiving where all the parts of the body are, what they’re doing and the strength or force involved in using them).
Gross motor skills are essential for activities like:
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Crawling, walking and running.
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Jumping, balancing and climbing.
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Throwing, catching and kicking.
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Hopping and skipping.
Fine motor skills
Fine motor skills involve the use of smaller muscle groups for tasks that require precision, finger dexterity and coordination.
Examples of activities that require fine motor skills include:
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Grasping and holding small objects.
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Drawing, colouring in, and handwriting.
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Cutting with scissors or tearing.
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Buttoning and zipping, dressing and undressing.
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Putting on socks, shoes and tying shoelaces.
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Using a spoon, knife or fork.
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Typing.
Many children with autism have difficulty with movement or motor skills because of their different learning styles, communication preferences and sensory preferences.
For example, a child will have difficulty perceiving their body movements and developing control of that movement if their proprioceptive sense is under-stimulated.
What are some typical milestones in motor development?
All children develop at their own rate, and each stage of development builds upon the one before it. While there are milestones that children typically reach by a certain age, not reaching or missing a milestone does not automatically mean they have autism or a developmental delay.
| 0-6 months |
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| 6-12 months |
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| 12-18 months |
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| 18-24 months |
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| 2-3 years |
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What can families do to help?
Children typically develop motor skills through exploration, exposure, and opportunities to practise. Autistic children may need targeted support for movement which takes into account things like social and communication skills, sensory processing and executive functioning. Some things to consider include:
Social communication — team sports and other types of active play often have a social component which may make it harder for your child to participate. Consider their skill and interest, and break the game down into small, clear steps. Start by playing with 1 other person and gradually increase the group size.
Sensory preferences and processing — the internal senses and motor skills go hand in hand. Help your child regulate their vestibular sense by offering swinging activities, and/or their proprioception with pushing and pulling activities, before you work on any other motor skills.
Executive functioning — include strategies to support executive functioning in your movement experiences like visual aids, routines, breaking tasks down into smaller steps and minimising distractions.
Here are some activities which can support your child’s motor skills to develop. Remember to tailor the experiences with strategies that support their social, communication, sensory and executive function skills:
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Play-based activities that involve movement and coordination, such as playing catch, kicking a ball, jumping rope, climbing on playground equipment, and riding bicycles or scooters.
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Playing outdoors involves activities that naturally develop motor skills, such as running, jumping, climbing, swinging, balancing and so on.
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Art and crafts involving drawing, colouring and cutting with safety scissors which help refine motor skills.
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Puzzles and building blocks.
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Musical instruments
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Chores — involving your children in household chores such as setting the table, folding laundry or arranging the bookshelf.
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Games — such as hopscotch or obstacle courses using household items like cushions and chairs.
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Sensory play — allows your child to explore different textures and can promote fine and gross motor skills — sand, water, playdough and clay are common options.
Summary
- Motor skills are crucial for movement and coordination – are divided into gross motor skills (large movements like walking and jumping) and fine motor skills (precise tasks like drawing and buttoning clothes).
- Autistic children may experience motor skill challenges – differences in learning styles, communication, and sensory processing can impact their ability to control movements and perceive their body's position in space.
- Milestones in motor development vary for each child – while typical developmental stages exist, delays do not automatically indicate autism or a developmental issue. Growth happens at an individual pace.
- Families can support motor development through tailored activities – encouraging outdoor play, sensory experiences, structured routines and strategies that address executive functioning can help autistic children refine motor skills.
