MILESTONES - Fine Motor Skill

Birth-3 months

• Hands are in a fist, thumbs are tucked in

• Baby’s arms move randomly in asymmetric patterns

• Watches movements of her hands and can bring the hand to her mouth

• Swings at a target using her entire arm

• Follows a moving person with his eyes

• Holds objects in hands without dropping

3-6 months

• Picks up objects with one hand

• Transfers objects from one hand to another

• Looks at objects a few feet away

• Holds hands together

• Reaches for a toy using both arms and holds it briefly

6-9 months

• Rakes tiny objects with fingers

• Uses thumb and fingertips to grasp objects

• Uses thumb and side of index finger to grip objects

• Holds 2 objects, one in each hand, at the same time

• Uses 2 hands to pick up large objects

9-12 months

• Puts small objects in cup or other container

• Turns book pages a few at a time

• Attempts to imitate new gestures

• Pokes and points at things using index finger

• Grabs crayons in fist

• Uses both hands and begins to show preference for one

12-18 months

• Builds tower of 2 or more blocks

• Marks with crayon or pencil

• Marks a piece of paper with a crayon and scribbles imitatively

• Stacks 2-3 cubes

• Can hold an object with one hand and manipulate it with the other hand

18-24 months

• Starts using fingers and thumb to grasp crayons

• Imitates vertical and circular scribbles

• Turns pages of a book one at a time

• Strings 1 inch beads

• Builds tower with 3-5 blocks

2 years

• Removes screw-on lid from bottle

• Stacks 8-10 cubes

• Strings 2-4 beads

• Copies circle

3-4 years

• Cuts across paper with small scissors

• Draws or copies a complete circle

• Unbuttons 3 buttons

4-5 years

• Prints first name 

• Draws a person that has at least 3 parts- head, eyes, nose, etc.

• Draws recognizable pictures

• Buttons and unbuttons 1 button

• Grasps marker between thumb and pad of index finger