Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Early Childhood Practice Exam

What strategy would best foster the fine-motor skills necessary for writing in a class of three-year-olds?

1. using thick pencils to trace letters

2. engaging in activities like fingerplays and blocks

3. singing songs while clapping rhythms

4. participating in fingerpainting and handprints

The correct answer is: engaging in activities like fingerplays and blocks

Fostering fine-motor skills in three-year-olds is essential for their writing development. Engaging in activities like fingerplays and block building effectively targets these skills. Fingerplays promote dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and the use of small muscles in the hands and fingers, which are crucial for writing. Additionally, manipulating blocks helps children develop grip strength and control, as they must grasp and position the blocks in various ways. While other activities such as using thick pencils to trace letters can support fine-motor development, they may not be as age-appropriate for three-year-olds who are still mastering basic grasping techniques. Singing songs while clapping rhythms focuses more on auditory and gross motor skills rather than fine motor. Fingerpainting and handprints, while beneficial for creativity and sensory exploration, may not provide the same targeted practice for grasp and control as building with blocks or participating in fingerplay. Overall, option B offers a well-rounded approach to promoting essential fine-motor skills in early childhood.