What fine motor skill typically develops at the school age stage?

Handwriting is a key fine motor skill that typically develops during the school age stage, as children begin to engage more deeply with academic activities that require written communication. This milestone reflects a child’s ability to coordinate small muscles in the hands and fingers to produce letters and numbers, control writing instruments, and express thoughts in written form.

By this stage, children have often gained sufficient dexterity through previous experiences with fine motor tasks such as manipulating small objects and practicing grip strength. This level of skill development allows them to write with more precision, speed, and legibility, which are fundamental for their academic success.

The other options represent fine motor skills that develop either prior to or alongside handwriting in earlier stages of development. Playing with blocks, buttoning clothing, and cutting with scissors are all important skills but are typically mastered before the school age, as they involve foundational aspects of hand-eye coordination and dexterity that precede the more complex task of writing.