Hand and Finger Skills: By the End of 3, 4, and 5 Years
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Topics: Early Years (Birth-5), Preschool, Motor (Ages 2-3)
Topics: Early Years (Birth-5), Preschool, Motor (Ages 2-3)
To learn to write, preschoolers need to develop the muscles in their hands. Teachers refer to this as fine motor skills. Read on to find out what's typical in terms of hand and finger skill development for children ages 3, 4, and 5 years old.
By the end of 3 years (36 months):
- Makes up-and-down, side-to-side, and circular lines with pencil or crayon
- Turns book pages one at a time
- Builds a tower of more than six blocks
- Holds a pencil in writing position
- Screws and unscrews jar lids, nuts, and bolts
- Turns rotating handles
By the end of 4 years (48 months):
- Copies square shapes
- Draws a person with two to four body parts
- Uses scissors
- Draws circles and squares
- Begins to copy some capital letters
By the end of 5 years (60 months):
- Copies triangle and other shapes
- Draws person with body
- Prints some letters
- Dresses and undresses without help
- Uses fork, spoon, and (sometimes) a table knife
- Usually cares for own toilet needs
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention content is free and public domain.
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