motor development

general principles for typical motor development

• cephalocaudal/proximal to distal

• gross to fine motor

• stability to controlled

• spiraling manner

  • periods of equilibrium and disequilibrium

2 months

• can hold head up

• turn head toward sound

4 months

• hold head steady

• pushes up to elbows

• bring hand to mouth

• reach for toy

• track with eyes

• smile spontaneously

6 months

• rolls over

• pass hand to hand

• thing to mouth

• sits with support

• supports weight on legs (can stand with support)

9 months

• get into sitting from lying

• sit without support

• pushup in prone

• crawls

• pull to stand

• stand holding objects

• tracks falling/moving objects

• pinch

12 months

• can take a few unsupported steps

• walks well steadying self on environment

• puts objects into container

• release objects without help

18 months

• walks alone

• rarely falls

• uses cup/spoon

2 years

• climbs up/down furniture

• up/down stairs holding on

• stand tip toe

• begin to run

• kick a ball

3 years

• climbs well

• up/down stairs 1 foot at a time

• runs easily

• pedal tricycle

4 years

• hops/stands on 1 foot for 2 seconds

• catches a bounced ball most of the time

• pours liquid with SPV

5 years

uses toilet independently

10-12 months

creeps on hands and feet

11-12 months

creeps well

9-10 months

cruises around furniture

12-15 months

walks independently

4-5 months grasp

• progress toward palmar grasp

  • ulnar palmar grasp

5 months grasp

develops palmar grasp

6-7 months grasp

radial-palmar grasp

8-9 months grasp

• radial-digital grasp

6 month grasp of pellet

raking

9 month grasp of pellet

inferior pincer

12 months grasp of pellet

fine pincer

2 - 2 ½ years; object manipulation

• palm to finger translation

• simple rotation

3-6 years; object manipulation

shift

6-7 years; object manipulation

• complex rotation

• In hand manipulation

12-18 months prewriting & writing

• scribbling

• grasp

• arm moves as unit

2-3 years prewriting and writing

digital pronate grasp

3 ½ - 4 years prewriting and writing

static tripod posture

4 ½ - 6 years pre writing and writing

dynamic tripod posture

• copies some letters and numbers, possibly their name (4-5)

• write name using lower and upper case (5-6)

3-4 years; scissor skills

• jagged snips

• straight and curved lines with guide

• simple circles using helper hand

4.5-5 years; scissor skills

• simple geometric shapes (squares, triangles)

5.5-7 years; scissor skills

variety of shapes and progressively more complex shapes

2-3 years; drawing

• scribbles with intention

• imitates and crudely/unevenly copies vertical and horizontal lines and circles

3-4 years; drawing

• scribbles, draws recognizable shapes

• human figures

4.5-5 years; drawing

• intentionally draws what they want to produce

• elements and shapes are distinct

• human figure with more human features

5.5 - 7 years; drawing

• intentionally draws with multiple details

• human figures with numerous distinct features