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Mississauga Christian Academy
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            MCA is a private Christian school dedicated to providing excellent Christian education.

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            Find out what makes MCA unique and an excellent school choice for your child.

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            Meet our highly qualified and dedicated staff with a passion for Christian education.

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            We invite passionate OCT educators to apply to some of the open positions at MCA.

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            We are a non-profit organization operating under the direction of a volunteer board of directors.

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            We focus on students as individuals, teaching and living out a Christian worldview and community-based education.

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            If you are unable to come see our school, sign up for a virtual tour so you can experience our classrooms and facilities.

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            We would love to show you our school in person where you can see first hand what the learning experience at MCA looks like.

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            If you have some questions about our school and would like to talk to someone, book a call with us and we would love to hear from you.

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  • Academics
      • Covid-19 Learning
          • Learning at Home

            MCA offers a safe Remote Learning model as part of our Christian school program.

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            Student Guidelines

            Information and resources to help students effectively learn in a remote environment.

            Learn More

            Return to School Plan

            MCA staff look forward to learning in person with your children in Sep.

            Learn More

      • Kindergarten
          • Junior Kindergarten (JK)

            Welcome to JK, our early childhood development program based on Christian values..

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            Senior Kindergarten (SK)

            MCA offers a safe, challenging, nurturing and fun Senior Kindergarten Program.

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      • Elementary School
          • Grade 1-2 Curriculum

            Grades 1 and 2 at MCA are an exciting time of reading, writing and math basics.

            See Grade 1 Curriculum

            See Grade 2 Curriculum

            Grade 3-4 Curriculum

            MCA's Grades 3 and 4 are dynamic, student-centred with a wide range of engaging subjects.

            See Grade 3 Curriculum

            See Grade 4 Curriculum

            Grade 5 Curriculum

            MCA's Grade 5 help students successfully transition to Middle school and beyond.

            See Grade 5 Curriculum

      • Middle School
          • Grade 6 Curriculum

            MCA's Grade 6 covers a wide range of subjects enhanced to go beyond all standards.

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            Grade 7 Curriculum

            MCA's Grade 7 covers a wide range of subjects enhanced to go beyond all standards.

            Learn More

            Grade 8 Curriculum

            MCA's Grade 8 is an exciting time as students fully prepare for High school and beyond.

            Learn More

  • Admissions
      • Admission Process

        New students always welcome! Get full admission detail.

        Learn More

        International Admissions

        MCA welcomes international students to all school programs, from JK to Grade 8.

        Learn More

        Tuition Fees

        Get informed about tuition, fees and the cost of optional classes and activities.

        Learn More

        School Uniforms

        Learn more about our school uniforms, dress code and MCA Spirit Wear.

        Learn More

        Financial Aid

        MCA makes Christian education available to all with our Financial Aid Program.

        Learn More

        Apply Now
  • Continuous Learning
  • News
  • Gallery

Menu

  • Home
  • Enrichment Curriculum
  • About
      • About Us
          • About Us

            MCA is a private Christian school dedicated to providing excellent Christian education.

            Learn More

            MCA Facts

            MCA is committed to academic excellence, development of character and personal integrity.

            Learn More

            Why MCA

            Find out what makes MCA unique and an excellent school choice for your child.

            Learn More

      • Our Teachers
          • Our Teachers

            Meet our highly qualified and dedicated staff with a passion for Christian education.

            Learn More

            Join Our Team

            We invite passionate OCT educators to apply to some of the open positions at MCA.

            Learn More

      • Our Board of Directors
          • Our Board Of Directors

            We are a non-profit organization operating under the direction of a volunteer board of directors.

            Learn More

            Our Core Values

            We focus on students as individuals, teaching and living out a Christian worldview and community-based education.

            Learn More

      • Our Facilities
          • Gym

            A multipurpose space that is able to accommodate our various sporting needs.

            Learn More

            Classroom

            Our child-friendly classrooms provide a stimulating environment for student growth.

            Learn More

            View All Facilities

            We invite you to explore all facilities at MCA, including our gym, science labs and more.

            Learn More

      • Book a Tour/Open House
          • Virtual Tour

            If you are unable to come see our school, sign up for a virtual tour so you can experience our classrooms and facilities.

            Learn More

            1-on-1 Private Tour

            We would love to show you our school in person where you can see first hand what the learning experience at MCA looks like.

            Learn More

            Book a Call

            If you have some questions about our school and would like to talk to someone, book a call with us and we would love to hear from you.

            Learn More

  • Academics
      • Covid-19 Learning
          • Learning at Home

            MCA offers a safe Remote Learning model as part of our Christian school program.

            Learn More

            Student Guidelines

            Information and resources to help students effectively learn in a remote environment.

            Learn More

            Return to School Plan

            MCA staff look forward to learning in person with your children in Sep.

            Learn More

      • Kindergarten
          • Junior Kindergarten (JK)

            Welcome to JK, our early childhood development program based on Christian values..

            Learn More

            Senior Kindergarten (SK)

            MCA offers a safe, challenging, nurturing and fun Senior Kindergarten Program.

            Learn More

      • Elementary School
          • Grade 1-2 Curriculum

            Grades 1 and 2 at MCA are an exciting time of reading, writing and math basics.

            See Grade 1 Curriculum

            See Grade 2 Curriculum

            Grade 3-4 Curriculum

            MCA’s Grades 3 and 4 are dynamic, student-centred with a wide range of engaging subjects.

            See Grade 3 Curriculum

            See Grade 4 Curriculum

            Grade 5 Curriculum

            MCA’s Grade 5 help students successfully transition to Middle school and beyond.

            See Grade 5 Curriculum

      • Middle School
          • Grade 6 Curriculum

            MCA’s Grade 6 covers a wide range of subjects enhanced to go beyond all standards.

            Learn More

            Grade 7 Curriculum

            MCA’s Grade 7 covers a wide range of subjects enhanced to go beyond all standards.

            Learn More

            Grade 8 Curriculum

            MCA’s Grade 8 is an exciting time as students fully prepare for High school and beyond.

            Learn More

  • Admissions
      • Admission Process

        New students always welcome! Get full admission detail.

        Learn More

        International Admissions

        MCA welcomes international students to all school programs, from JK to Grade 8.

        Learn More

        Tuition Fees

        Get informed about tuition, fees and the cost of optional classes and activities.

        Learn More

        School Uniforms

        Learn more about our school uniforms, dress code and MCA Spirit Wear.

        Learn More

        Financial Aid

        MCA makes Christian education available to all with our Financial Aid Program.

        Learn More

        Apply Now
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How to Develop and Improve Fine Motor Skills in Kids Aged 3-6

Fine motor skills in kids aged 3 through 6 are required to accomplish various everyday activities. They also play an essential role in a child's academic success. By practicing and improving fine motor skills, kids develop abilities needed for a successful career in professions such as architecture, science, medicine, etc.

Simple tasks, such as cutting with scissors, drawing shapes or using a pencil, are essential skills that must be taught as early as kindergarten. The best way for kids to master all these small finger movements is through enjoyable and exciting exercises, where children do not feel like they’re training but rather play and have fun.

Read on to find out what activities can help kindergarteners develop and improve their fine motor skills at school and at home.

What are fine motor skills

Fine motor skills control the movements of small muscles, such as those in fingers, toes, wrists, hands and feet, and require kids’ brains to coordinate between the action and the thing they’re seeing.

They are often overlooked during the early years of development, usually due to a lack of awareness of their importance. However, these tiny actions play an essential role in performing simple tasks, such as using cutlery, colouring, cleaning teeth, etc. They are crucial for a child’s overall growth.

When do kids start developing fine motor skills

The development of fine motor skills begins as early as one or two months after birth. It is not uncommon for babies to focus on the fingers and toes during this time as they learn how to move them.

Fine motor skills development is the most intense in the first seven years of a child’s life. After the age of seven, these skills are simply being refined. It is crucial for your child’s overall growth and progress to practice and improve fine motor skills.

As kids get older, fine motor skills become more advanced thanks to their natural curiosity. Here’s a brief timeline of fine motor milestones for kids aged 2-6:

  • 2-3 years - At this development stage, a child should be able to manipulate clay material, copy circles, imitate crosses, snip paper using scissors and build towers of nine small blocks. This is also when they start using their non-dominant hand to assist and stabilize the use of objects.
  • 3-4 years - Children aged 3-4, in addition to all the above, can also write their name and numbers 1-5. Most kids can usually trace and cut along a line continuously, copy letters and squares, as well as dress and undress independently.
  • 4-6 years - When kids are four to six years old, their skill set should include cutting out simple shapes, drawing basic pictures and colouring within the lines. In addition, they should be able to use glue appropriately and use a three-fingered grasp of a pencil and generate movement with their fingers.

At this age, children acquire fine motor skills at a rapid pace. In a span of just a few months, they go from barely being able to hold a spoon to confidently using a fork and knife. Keeping a steady pace while being patient and sensible is crucial for their progress.

Why are fine motor skills essential

Developing and improving fine motor skills is vital for your child's growth and academic success since these fine activities are linked to brain development.

With improved fine motor skills, kids tend to become more independent in performing various tasks, like eating, writing, speaking, creating, and dressing themselves. It also positively impacts their self-esteem and confidence, which helps them access a broader source of learning activities and social experiences.

Practicing fine motor skills also improves kids' hand-eye coordination, which helps develop cognitive abilities and learn to write and read proficiently with a better understanding. In addition, with better hand-eye coordination comes a greater chance for a child to have a successful career as a doctor, surgeon, architect, etc.

Activities to develop and improve fine motor skills

Adults need to encourage and empower children with their support and give kids the opportunity to practice and improve their fine motor skills in exciting and inspiring ways.

Here are some activities that can help with developing and improving fine motor skills in young children:

Arts and crafts activities that help with fine motor skills improvement

Activities like scribbling, colouring, drawing, writing and cutting help kids’ fine motor skills improve and positively affect creativity and imagination

Practicing these pencil and scissors skills helps children gain greater control using things in their hands and strengthen their hand-eye coordination, which is necessary for cognitive development.

Kids enjoy experimenting and working with their hands, so tactile play with materials like play-dough or slime is a great way to build fine motor skills and have fun at the same time!

Cursive writing helps kids develop and improve fine motor skills

Despite many people believing that cursive writing is a dying art, there are some major benefits to teaching kids how to write in cursive. One of the most important benefits is that it can help improve fine motor skills.

Cursive writing requires children to use small muscles in their hands and fingers in a coordinated way, which helps to strengthen these muscles over time.

In addition, cursive writing also helps improve dexterity and coordination. As a result, children who learn how to write in cursive often have an easier time learning other tasks that require fine motor skills, such as buttoning a shirt or tying shoelaces.

The benefits of writing in cursive don’t stop here.

Cursive writing also helps kids increase mental efficiency by improving neural connections in the brain. It can help them develop self-discipline and professionalism as well as grammar, spelling, but also memory and concentration.

Playtime activities that positively affect fine motor skills development

Engaging with and encouraging a child to complete puzzles can improve their hand-eye skills, coordination and fine motor skills. In addition, picking up and moving puzzle pieces into place helps develop a pincer grasp.

Almost every child loves building things with blocks and Legos, which benefits delicate pushing and pulling movements. Aside from that, it builds stronger muscles in kids’ hands and helps with coordination while teaching them to be persistent.

Outdoor activities for improving fine motor skills

Outdoor activities are not just good for a child's overall health but also encourage the advancement of fine motor skills. For example, playing with sand, scooping, and digging with spoons, or using moulds positively affects sensory development. Likewise, drawing on the pavement with stubby chalk or water brushes encourages proper grip.

Self-care activities that help with fine motor skills progress

Even though teaching children to brush their teeth or tie their shoelaces can be challenging, these self-care activities are essential for developing kids’ independence. Putting on shoes, zipping buttons, belts, using cutlery, and brushing hair may seem like simple tasks but these actions require the movement of multiple tiny muscles and thus improve coordination and fine motor skills development.

The role school plays in developing fine motor skills

Many schools are now incorporating fine motor development into the curriculum in various ways: by encouraging children to use different textures and materials when they do art projects; teaching them how to button their clothes or brush their hair independently; providing more writing activities that involve a range of grips as well as encouragement for using scissors properly.

Here at MCA, we work with each child individually and offer them the support and encouragement needed to develop and improve their fine motor skills.

We even go a step further. Besides all the above-mentioned activities, our school program also includes cursive writing - an often neglected but essential method to help young learners gain, develop and master fine motor skills.

When it comes to your child, we put great emphasis on helping them succeed by mastering all-important skills and growing mentally, emotionally, and professionally.

If you’re interested to learn more about how MCA supports fine motor skills development in its students, reach out to us, and we will be happy to answer all your questions.

Meet MCA's Director of EnrollmentCourtney Lewis

Dear Prospective MCA Families,

You don’t have to wait for the beginning of a new school year to apply to MCA. Students are welcome to register at any time during the year. Feel free to contact me at the school office by phone 905-826-4114, or by email, if you have any questions or would like to arrange an appointment to come in and see our school.

Talk To Our Director of Enrollment
Mississauga Christian Academy is a Christian Private School in Mississauga, Ontario. MCA serves a diverse student population and is focused on preparing young people for high school success.
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Address: Mississauga Christian Academy 2720 Gananoque Drive Mississauga, ON L5N 2R3 CANADA

Phone: 905-826-4114

Fax: 905-567-5874

Email: info@mcalearn.com

Contact Us

Address: Mississauga Christian Academy
2720 Gananoque Drive Mississauga,
ON L5N 2R2 CANADA
Phone: 905-826-4114
Fax: 905-567-5874
Email: info@mcalearn.com
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