Fine motor skills for each age
Paige Flamm
If you’re wondering whether or not your child’s fine motor skills are developing appropriately, here is a list of fine motor skills for each age. If you have a concern that your child is not meeting their milestones on time, a licensed occupational therapist will be able to help determine if intervention might be needed.
Newborn Fine Motor Skills (0-6 Months):
Reflexively grasps objects that are put into their hand
Reaches and grasps for objects/toys
Holding objects in the palm of two hands (3 months)
Holding objects in the palm of one hand (5 months)
Can find an object when dropped nearby
6-12 Month Fine Motor Skills:
Brings objects to mouth or midline
Releases objects from hand in a controlled manner
Can pick up small objects like cheerios with their thumb and pointer finger, often called a pincer grasp (looks like they’re pinching)
Can transfer objects from one hand to another
Pointing with index finger
Clapping hands or objects together
Fine Motor Skills For 1-2 Years:
Stacks three blocks
Place rings on stacking toy
Turns pages of board book or other thick paged books
Starts turning doorknobs
Painting/Drawing with whole arm movements
Begins independent eating (using utensils but not very efficient)
Brings spoon to mouth
Drinking from a straw or open cup independently and minimal spilling
Completes shape sorter without assistance
Fine Motor Skills For 2-3 Years:
String 3-4 beads
Build a tower of 3-5 blocks
Can imitate simple patterns
Turn single pages in a book with thin pages
Begins to cut/snip with scissors
Uses one hand consistently
Can imitate drawing circular, horizontal, and vertical lines on a paper
Eats independently
Can complete simple wooden inset puzzles
Fine Motor Skills for 3-4 Years:
Copy block designs up to six blocks
Open plastic bags and lunch containers
Tracing lines
Copy drawing a circle or a cross
Using non-dominant hand to assist in balancing and stabilizing objects
String a simple pattern of beads
Roughly cut out multiple shapes
Complete 4-6 piece interlocking puzzles
Brush hair and teeth
Dress independently: fastening large buttons and donning socks, and shoes
Fine Motor Skills for 4-5 Years:
Can cut along continuous line
Builds with legos
Hold a pencil in a tripod grasp
Begin to color inside lines
Write their name
Copy numbers 1-5
Copy some or all letters
Dress and undress with minimal assistance
Copy drawing simple pictures
Independently draw pictures
Complete 8-12 piece interlocking puzzle
Fine Motor Skills for 5-6 Years:
Cut out simple shapes
Starts building with legos
Write numbers 1-10 independently
Write letters independently
Copy a triangle
Color in the lines
Cut and paste projects
Draw basic pictures
Use knife and fork on soft foods
Complete a 20 piece puzzle
Fine Motor Skills for 6-7 Years:
Form letters and numbers correctly
Dressing independently
Cutting neatly around shapes
Writing on lines
Drawing more detailed pictures independently
Tying shoes independently
Fine Motor Skills for 7-8 Years:
Writes neatly
Maintains neat handwriting over a longer period of time
Cuts neatly around shapes
Complete more complex puzzles
These are just some of the major fine motor skills for each age. If you have a concern that your child is not meeting these milestones on time, please give our office a call to schedule a free consultation with one of our pediatric occupational therapists. They will be able to help guide you in the right direction and let you know if their services are needed.