Motor Development

Fine motor skills

________: motor skills that involve small muscles; finely tuned movements.

Gross motor skills

motor skills that invoke large-muscle activities

Two types of grasps

palmar and pincer

Fine motor skills

motor skills that involve small muscles; finely tuned movements

First-year gross milestones

culminate with walking steadily.

Reflexes phase out as

higher skills take over

Babies learn to perceive and

respond to environment around them

Motor development is

dynamic and multisensory process

Gross motor development in the second year:

• More independent; increased mobile: pull
toys, climb stairs.
• Natural exercise: walk quickly, run stiffly.

Motor development in the second year

More independent; increased mobile: pull
toys, climb stairs.
Natural exercise: walk quickly, run stiffly.

Motor development is divided into

gross and fine motor skill development

Gross motor skills

motor skills that invoke large-muscle activities.

Experience plays a significant role in

the development of fine motor skills

Fine motor skills developmental milestones from 0-3 months

* Brings hands to mouth
* Moves arms
* May swing arms at toys
* Hands start to open more

Fine motor skills developmental milestones from 3-6 months

* Holds small object in hand (without thumb tucked in hand)
* Holds hands together
* Reaches for toys with both arms
* Pushes up on arms when on tummy
* Briefly holds a toy like a rattle
* Follows objects with eyes in all directions

Fine motor skills developmental milestones from 6-9 months

* Shakes and bangs rattles
* Brings toys to mouth
* Uses a raking grasp
* Transfers objects from one hand to the other
* Keeps hands open and relaxed most of the time
* Starting to have the ability to pick up small foods like Cheerios

Fine motor skills developmental milestones from 9-12 months

* Able to release an object voluntarily
* Gives toy to a caregiver when asked
* Bangs two toys together
* Turns pages of a book a few pages at a time
* Begins to put objects into a container
* Points to objects
* Stacks 2 blocks

Fine motor skills developmental milestones from 12-18 months

* Claps hands together
* Puts objects and toys into containers
* Waves goodbye
* Uses both hands to play
* Can isolate index finger with other fingers closed
* Scribbles with a crayon
* Beginning to use a spoon and cup

Fine motor skills developmental milestones from 18-24 months

* Can build a block tower using 3-4 blocks
* Puts rings on a ring stacker
* Turns pages of a book one at a time
* Begins holding crayons with finger tips and thumbs

What type of motor skill is the development of posture?

gross motor skill

What type of motor skill is learning to walk?

gross motor skill

What type of motor skill involves a babies arms, legs, head, and torso?

gross motor skill

What type of motor skill is finger dexterity (thumbs and forefinger)?

fine motor skill

What are the two types of grasps?

Palmar and pincer