The coordination of the fine motor skills is directly related to the growth of small muscles
of hand, which are used for performing tasks such as writing, threading, assembling bolts
and nuts and scissoring. The success on all these manual tasks will result in positive selfconcept,
and school achievement.
Our body is equipped with receptor organs, which are sensitive to senses of touch,
pressure, temperature and position of various parts of the body in space. Perception of
kinesis affects body image and the position of body in space. Providing opportunities for
children to have some experience, practice and play in the tactile perceptions will help
children to develop better perception of kinesis. These experiences will assist them to
extend the execution of multi-sensory practices. Comparison of the degree of
temperature, color, texture, design and touch will improve their kinetic perception. It is
also important to encourage children to increase their awareness of their body position
during movement. It seems that the more children become efficient in receiving and
processing input stimulation, the more they are able to perceive their environment and as
a result they become more able to describe and express themselves manually or verbally.
Considering the first stages of development, Vygotsky (1978) indicated that the basis of
the formation of higher cortical functions is related to primary processes. If tactile
perception and thoughts are not stable enough, complex concepts can not grow. If there is
no stable foundation for immediate memory, long term memory will not form. However;
in the next stages of mental development the relationship between primary and complex
processes changes. Higher cortical functions which are based on the primary processes
begin to affect the primary processes and even the simplest forms of cortical functions
begin to reorganize. Therefore the development of memory in children should be studied
by considering not only the changes happening in the memory but also the relationship
between memory and other functions.
Play is a complex phenomenon, which is studied through different disciplines such as
biology, humanities and sociology. For occupational therapists, play is multi-dimensional
and socio-psycho-biological phenomenon. In recent years research has been done on the
basis of the long history of the relationship between occupational therapy and playing as
a comprehensive part of a healthy life. In conclusion it is important to mention 1) playing
is not only a distinguishing feature of childhood but it is a guideline for development, 2)
transformation from the domination of imaginary situations to the rule-driven situations
in the development of play is very important, 3) playing will create changes in the
development of child.