Fine motor skills

Newborn- 1 month

• Regards objects in direct line of sight

• Follows moving object to midline

• Hand listed

• Arm movements jerky

• Movements may be purposeful/random

2 - 3 months

• Can see farther distances

• Hands open more

• Visually follows 180 degrees

• Grasp is reflexive

• Uses palmer grasp

• Brings hands to feet/mouth to midline

4-5 months

• Grasps and releases toys

• Ulnar palmer grasp

6-7 months

• Approaches objects with one hand

• Arm in neutral when approaching toy

• Radial-palmer grasp

• “Rakes” with fingers to pick up small objects

• Voluntary release to transfer objects between hands

8- 9 months

• Develops active supination

• Radial- digital grasp develops

• Uses inferior pincer grip

• Extends wrist actively

• Points/pokes with index finger

• Release pf objects is more refined

• Takes objects out of container

10-11 months

• Fine pincer grasp developed

• Puts objects into container

• Grasps crayon adaptively

12-15 months

• Marks paper with crayon

• Builds tower using 2 cubes

• Turns over small container to obtain contents

• Uses objects as tools (pots and pans)

16-24 months

• Folds paper

• Strings beads

• Stacks 6 cubes

• Imitates vertical and horizontal strokes with crayon on paper

• Holds crayon with thumb and fingers

2 years

• Turns knob

• Open and closes jar

• Able to button large buttons

• Uses child-size scissors with help

• Does 12-15 piece puzzle

• Folds paper/clothes

Preschool (3-4 years )

• Controls crayons more effectively

• Copies a circle or cross

• Matches colors

• Cuts with scissors

• Draws recognizable human figures with head and 2 extremities

• Draws squares

• May demonstrate hand preference

Early school (5-8 years)

• Hand preference is evident

• Prints well, starting to learn cursive writing

• Able to button small buttons

Later school (9-12 years)

• Develops greater hand control usage

• Learns to draw

• Handwriting is developing

Adolescence (13+ years )

• Develops greater dexterity in finger for fine art tasks (knitting, sewing, art, crafts)