Fine motor skill and cognition development in children with autism using finger painting method

Introduction: Fine motor and cognitive delays are the things that occur in children with autism. The fine motor activity becomes a component which supports emotional, social and cognitive development. Good motor skill development will optimally trigger the maturity of cognitive ability. Aims: This study analyzes the effect of finger painting on fine motor skill and cognitive changes in children with autism. Method: This study applies a pre-experimental one-group design. There are six children with autism without comorbidities selected as respondents by using purposive sampling technique. The sample must be able to receive orders while still getting ABA and BIT therapies. The independent variable of the study was finger painting activity while the dependent variable is a fine motor and cognitive status in children with autism. The observation format from Dr. Rudy Sutadi, SpA, MARS was applied for motor and cognitive skill assessment. The research media used was paper and paint which were safe for children and the Wilcoxon sign rank test was used as the result analysis of the study with a significance level p 0.05. Result: The results of the study indicated that improvement in cognitive skill (p=0.023) and fine motor skill (p=0.024) in children with autism after treated with finger painting intervention. Conclusion: Finger painting is potential to be an alternative to develop cognitive and fine motor skills in children with autism. It stimulates motoric and cognitive aspects in the process of recalling the color mix which relates to fingers’fine muscles.