Typical Fine Motor Development

The following lists describe common age developmental milestones, describing what tasks children ages six months, nine months, one year,  18 months, two years, three years, four years, five years, and six years can typically perform.

6 to 9 Months

• Grasps and holds objects
• Holds one object while looking for another
• Pokes at objects with index finger
• Puts objects in mouth
• Feels and explores objects with mouth
• Holds bottle
• Squeezes and shakes toys
• Plays with own hands

9 to 12 Months

• Feeds self by picking up food with fingers
• Uses thumb and index finger (pincer grasp) to grasp objects
• Transfers objects from one hand to another
• Holds two small objects in one hand

12 to 18 Months

• Builds tower of two cubes
• Claps hands
• Waves "bye-bye"
• Scoops with spoon or shovel
• Bangs together two objects held in hands
• Puts small objects into containers
• Scribbles

18 Months to Age 2 Years

• Puts rings on pegs
• Removes pegs from a pegboard
• Marks or scribbles with pencil or crayon
• Builds tower three to four blocks tall
• Opens loosely wrapped small objects (e.g., candies)

Age 2 Years

• Manipulates clay
• Turns doorknobs
• Picks up small objects with pincer grasp
• Completes three-piece puzzle
• Scribbles
• Cuts paper with scissors
• Strings large beads
• Opens and closes large zippers
• Uses spoon effectively
• Nests objects (inserts one inside the other) graduated in size

Age 3 Years

• Draws circle after being shown model
• Strings half-inch beads
• Cuts along a line
• Makes clay flat "cakes," rolled "ropes," and balls
• Sorts objects
• Fastens and unfastens large front buttons

Age 4 Years

• Traces vertical and horizontal lines
• Cuts while moving paper
• Completes puzzles with four to five pieces
• Uses fork effectively
• Dresses and undresses unassisted
• Draws cross (+) when shown an example

Age 5 Years

• Grasps pencil correctly
• Prints simple words
• Cuts circle
• Opens lock with key
• Makes recognizable objects with clay
• Draws diamond when shown an example

Age 6 Years

• Copies first name
• Builds structure with small blocks
• Completes a puzzle with sixteen to twenty pieces
• Dials telephone
• Uses knife to cut soft foods
• Draws person with six or more parts
• Draws line with ruler