Fine Motor
Fine Motor Skills (or dexterity) is the coordination of small muscles, in movements—usually involving the synchronization of hands and fingers—with the eyes.
Fine motor skills are used during writing, holding small items, buttoning clothing, turning pages, eating, cutting with scissors, and using computer keyboards.
There is a developmental sequence in which a child acquires these skills.
Fine motor skills are used during writing, holding small items, buttoning clothing, turning pages, eating, cutting with scissors, and using computer keyboards.
There is a developmental sequence in which a child acquires these skills.
Typical Development for Fine Motor Skills:
0-6 Months
6-12 Months
1-2 Years
2-3 Years
4-5 Years- (Pre-School Skills)
5-6 Years (Kindergarten Skills)
6-7 Years
- Reflexive Grasp (at birth)
- Ineffective Reaching for Objects (3 months
- Voluntary Grasp (3 months)
- 1 Handed Palmar Grasp (5 months)
- Controlled Reach (6 months)
6-12 Months
- Reaches, grasps and puts objects in mouth
- Controlled release of toy
- Pincer grasp
- Transfers toy from one hand to the other
1-2 Years
- Builds tower of three small blocks
- Puts four rings on stick
- Places five pegs in pegboard
- Turns several pages at a time
- Scribbles
- Turns knobs
- Uses whole arm movement
- Begins to Self-feed
- Brings spoon to mouth
- Holds and drinks from cup independently
2-3 Years
- Strings large beads
- Turns single pages
- Snips with scissors
- Holds crayon with thumb and fingers (not fist)
- Uses one hand consistently in most activities (preference)
- Imitates circular, vertical, horizontal strokes
- Eats without assistance
- Copies circle
- Imitates cross
- Spontaneously uses non dominant hand to assist and stabilize the use of objects
- Snips with Scissors
4-5 Years- (Pre-School Skills)
- Cuts on line continuously
- Copies cross
- Copies square
- Writes name
- Writes numbers 1-5
- Copies letters
- Handedness well established
- Dresses and undresses independently
- Emerging Tripod Grasp
5-6 Years (Kindergarten Skills)
- 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 Years
- Letter and Number formations
- Writes consistently on the lines
- Demonstrates controlled pencil movement
- Good endurance for writing (Few Sentences)
- Tie Shoe Laces
