Motor Development
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
Divided into gross and fine motor skill development
Gross motor skills: motor skills that invoke large-muscle activities.
Development of posture.
Learning to walk.
Involve arms, legs, head, torso in babies
First-year gross milestones culminate with walking steadily.
Development in the second year:
More independent; increased mobile: pull toys, climb stairs.
Natural exercise: walk quickly, run stiffly.
Fine motor skills: motor skills that involve small muscles; finely tuned movements
Finger dexterity (thumb and forefinger).
Two types of grasps: palmar and pincer.
Wrists and hands turn and rotate more.
Experience plays a significant role.
Developmental milestones: Fine Motor Ages 0 – 2
0-3 months
Brings hands to mouth
Moves arms
May swing arms at toys
Hands start to open more
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
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
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
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
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
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
Divided into gross and fine motor skill development
Gross motor skills: motor skills that invoke large-muscle activities.
Development of posture.
Learning to walk.
Involve arms, legs, head, torso in babies
First-year gross milestones culminate with walking steadily.
Development in the second year:
More independent; increased mobile: pull toys, climb stairs.
Natural exercise: walk quickly, run stiffly.
Fine motor skills: motor skills that involve small muscles; finely tuned movements
Finger dexterity (thumb and forefinger).
Two types of grasps: palmar and pincer.
Wrists and hands turn and rotate more.
Experience plays a significant role.
Developmental milestones: Fine Motor Ages 0 – 2
0-3 months
Brings hands to mouth
Moves arms
May swing arms at toys
Hands start to open more
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
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
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
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
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