Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Special Education Practice Exam

Which fine motor skill is typically developed last?

1. Gripping a pencil

2. Cutting shapes with scissors

3. Buttoning a shirt

4. Tying shoelaces

The correct answer is: Cutting shapes with scissors

The development of fine motor skills typically follows a sequence, with more complex skills emerging after foundational ones. Tying shoelaces is generally considered to be one of the last fine motor skills to develop because it requires a combination of dexterity, coordination, and cognitive ability to manage the task. This skill involves multiple steps and the manipulation of two laces simultaneously, which can be challenging for younger children. In contrast, gripping a pencil, cutting shapes with scissors, and buttoning a shirt are usually acquired earlier in a child's development. Gripping a pencil is essential for writing and typically emerges first, followed by using scissors, which allows for more active engagement in crafting and cutting activities. Buttoning a shirt involves fine motor skills but is still less complex than tying shoelaces. Thus, tying shoelaces is often mastered later in childhood, making it the skill that develops last among the options presented.