Developmental Milestones for Fine Motor Skills
| 0 – 6 Months | Reflexive grasp (at birth) Global ineffective reach for objects (3 months) Voluntary grasp (3 months) 2 handed palmar grasp (3 months) 1 handed palmar grasp (5 months) Controlled reach (6 months) |
| 6 – 12 Months | Reaches, grasps, puts object in mouth Controlled release of objects Picks things up with pincer grasp (thumb and one finger) Transfers object from one hand to the other Drops and picks up toy |
| 1 – 2 Yrs | Builds tower of three small blocks Puts four rings on stick Places five pegs in pegboard Turns pages two or three at a time Scribbles Turns knobs Paints with whole arm movement, shifts hands, makes strokes Self-feeds with minimal assistance Able to use signing to communicate Brings spoon to mouth Holds and drinks from cup independently |
| 2 – 3 Yrs | Strings four large beads Turns single pages Snips with scissors Holds crayon with thumb and fingers (not fist) Uses one hand consistently in most activities Imitates circular, vertical, horizontal strokes Paints with some wrist action, makes dots, lines, circular strokes Rolls, pounds, squeezes, and pulls play dough Eats without assistance |
| 3 – 4 Yrs | Builds tower of nine small blocks Copies circle Imitates cross Manipulates clay material (rolls balls, makes snakes, cookies) Uses non dominant hand to assist and stabilize the use of objects Snips paper using scissors |
| 4 – 5 Yrs | Cuts on line continuously Copies cross Copies square Writes name Writes numbers 1-5 Copies letters Handedness well established Dresses and undresses independently |
| 5 – 6 Yrs | Cuts out simple shapes Copies triangle Colors within lines Uses a 3 fingered grasp of pencil and uses fingers to generate movement Pastes and glues appropriately Can draw basic pictures |
| 6 – 7 Yrs | Forms most letters and numbers correctly Writes consistently on the lines Demonstrates controlled pencil movement Good endurance for writing Can build Lego, knex and other blocks independently Ties Shoe Laces |
| 7 – 8 Yrs | Maintains legibility of handwriting for entirety of a story |