Typical Fine Motor Development
Source: Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall
Topics: Developmental Milestones, Motor (Age 0-1), Motor (Ages 2-3), Motor (Ages 3-5), Growth and Motor Skill Development
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
Excerpted From:
Excerpt from An Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education, by L.L. Dunlap, 1997 edition, p. 40.
© 1997, Merrill, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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