Gross and Fine Motor Skills Infancy-School-Age

Gross 2-4 mos

When prone, lifts head and chest and bears weight on forearms

With support able to sit erect with good head control

Can turn from side to back

Fine 2-4 mos

Holds rattle for short periods

Looks at and plays with fingers

Able to bring objects from hand to mouth

Gross 4-6 mos

Turns from abdomen to back at 5 months and then back to abdomen at 6 months

Can support much of own weight when pulled to stand

No head lag when pulled to sit

Fine 4-6 mos

Grasps objects at will and can drop them to pick up another object

Pulls feet to mouth to explore

Can hold a baby bottle

Gross 6-8 mos

Sits alone without support

Bears full weight on feet and can hold on to furniture

Can move from a sitting to kneeling position

Fine 6-8 mos

Bangs objects together

Pulls a string to obtain an object

Transfers objects from hand to hand

Gross 8-10 mos

Crawls or pulls entire body along floor using arms

Pulls self to standing or sitting

Creeps on hands and knees

Fine 8-10 mos

Picks up small objects

Uses pincer grasp well

Shows hand preference

Gross 10-12 mos

Stands alone

Walks holding onto furniture

Sits down from a standing position

Fine 10-12 mos

Can place objects into containers

Able to hold a crayon or pencil and make a mark on paper

Gross Toddler

running, jumping, standing on one foot for several seconds, and kicking a ball.

Fine Toddler

scribbling spontaneously to drawing circles and crosses accurately. By 3 years the child draws simple stick people and is usually able to stack a tower of small blocks. Children now hold crayons with their fingers rather than with their fists and can imitate vertical and horizontal strokes

Gross Preschool

Run, walk up steps, hop, skip on alternate feet, skate, swim, jump rope

Fine Preschool

Copy crosses and squares, triangles and diamonds.

Gross School Age

gross-motor skills of running, jumping, balancing, throwing, and catching during play

Fine School Age

gain control over fingers and wrists,

Painting, drawing, playing computer games, and modeling