Early Childhood Fine Motor Development Profile through Flannel-Based Ocean Habitat Educational Media: Adaptation of PDMS-2 Indicators

Abstract

Fine motor development in early childhood requires manipulative stimulation that trains finger coordination, hand control, and visual-motor integration. However, motor assessments in early childhood education are often still general and lack structured manipulative activities. This study aimed to describe children’s fine motor development through the use of flannel-based Ocean Habitat educational media adapted from the fine motor indicators of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales Second Edition (PDMS-2). A qualitative descriptive approach was used with 10 children aged 5–6 years at Pembina Kindergarten. Data were collected through structured observation, micro-motor video documentation, and field notes. The observation instrument covered grasping, visual-motor integration, and object manipulation aspects. The findings showed that Ocean Habitat media effectively stimulated pincer grasp skills, eye-hand coordination, finger stability, and manipulative control of small objects. Activities such as magnetic fishing, hanging flannel objects, and inserting components into slots provided meaningful sensorimotor stimulation. The study concludes that sensory-based manipulative media can support systematic and contextual assessment of fine motor development in early childhood.