Developmental Trajectories: Fine Motor Development 1

OT Practice and Children I (Lecture)

A child is able to swipe at objects but has inaccurate reach and cannot combine reach and grasp.

From what age range are these motor actions developmentally appropriate, and what stage of reach do these behaviors characterize?

1-3 months : Exploratory

A child’s reaching becomes more accurate and direct and they are able to reach midline.

From what age range are these motor actions developmentally appropriate, and what stage of reach do these behaviors characterize?

3-6 months; perceptual learning/transitional stage

By this age, children can combine reach and grasp with two hands.

6 months

A child is able to reach with 1-2 hands, uses an accurate and direct reach, and can change their direction of reach midstream.

From what age range are these motor actions developmentally appropriate, and what stage of reach do these behaviors characterize?

6-9 months : Skill achievement, adaptability, and flexibility

By this age range, infants can reach in all directions in a smooth and efficient manner, as well as combine reach and grasp + carry objects through space.

8-9 months

A child begins to exhibit voluntary grasp and squeeze objects with all fingers; however, the thumb does not participate. Their grasp is inefficient and the infant cannot move objects in their hand (no in-hand manipulation).

From what age range are these motor actions developmentally appropriate, and what stage of reach do these behaviors characterize?

3-5 months ; Exploratory

A child begins to exhibit radial palmar and radial digital grasping patterns. The thumb is more active in movements. The child is still unable to perform in-hand manipulation, but they are able to transfer objects hand to hand and explore in their mouth.

From what age range are these motor actions developmentally appropriate, and what stage of reach do these behaviors characterize?

6-12 months : Perceptual learning/transitional stage

When does voluntary release begin?

6-7 months

The child demonstrates a pincer grasp by this age. When does this become more precise?

12 months; becomes more precise by 18 months (precision release)

The developmental and refinement of the pincer grasp and dynamic grasp is developmentally appropriate from what age ranges?

12 months-2 years

By 2 years, grasp is projected to become ________. What does this allow for, functionally?

dynamic > allows for tool use, holding objects, blending grasp patterns for object manipulation

List some fine motor manipulation behaviors that are noted from birth - 6 months.

• following moving person with eyes

• developing accurate reach to object

• using variety of palmar grasp patterns

• securing object with hand and bringing to mouth

  • playing with hands at midline

List some fine motor manipulation behaviors that are noted from 6 - 12 months.

• mouths toys

• uses accurate and direct reach for toys

• plays with toys at midline, transfers hand to hand

• bangs objects together and makes sounds

• waves toys in air

• releases toys into container

• rolls ball to adult

• grasps small objects with fingertips

• points to toys with index finger, uses index finger to explore toys

List some fine motor manipulation behaviors that are noted from 12 - 18 months

• Holds crayon and makes marks; scribbles

• Holds two toys in hand and toys in both hands

• Releases toys inside containers, even small containers

• Stacks blocks and fits toys into form space (places pieces in board)

• Attempts puzzles

• Opens and shuts toy boxes or containers

• Points to pictures with index finger

• Uses two hands in play, one to hold or stabilize and one to manipulate

List some fine motor manipulation behaviors that are noted from 18 - 24 months.

• Completes four- to five-piece puzzle

• Builds towers (e.g., four blocks)

• Holds crayon in fingertips and draws simple figures (straight stroke or circular stroke)

• Strings beads

• Begins to use simple tools (e.g., play hammer)

• Participates in multipart tasks

• Turns pages of book

List some fine motor manipulation behaviors that are noted from 24 - 36 months.

• Completes four- to five-piece puzzle

• Builds towers (e.g., four blocks)

• Holds crayon in fingertips and draws simple figures (straight stroke or circular stroke)

• Strings beads

• Begins to use simple tools (e.g., play hammer)

• Participates in multipart tasks

• Turns pages of book

List some fine motor manipulation behaviors that are noted from 3 - 4 years.

• Uses precision (tripod) grasp on pencil or crayon

• Colors within lines

• Copies simple shapes; begins to copy letters

• Uses scissors to cut; cuts simple shapes

• Constructs three-dimensional design (e.g., three-block bridge)

• Manipulates objects within the hand

List some fine motor manipulation behaviors that are noted from 4 - 5 years.

• Draws using a dynamic tripod grasp

• Copies simple shapes

• Completes puzzles of up to 10 pieces

• Uses scissors to cut out squares and other simple shapes

• Colors within the lines

• Uses two hands together well, one stabilizing paper or object and the other manipulating object

• Draws stick figure or may begin to draw trunk and arms

• Copies own name

• Strings small beads

List some fine motor manipulation behaviors that are noted from 5 - 6 years.

• Cuts with scissors

• Prints name from copy

• Copies triangle; traces diamond

• Completes puzzles of up to 20 pieces

• Traces letters, begins to copy letters

• Manipulates tiny objects in fingertips without dropping

• Uses two hands together in complementary movements

List some fine motor manipulation behaviors that are noted from 6 - 10 years.

• Good dexterity for crafts and construction with small objects

• Bilateral coordination for building complex structure

• Precision and motor planning evident in drawing

• Motor planning evident in completion of complex puzzles