Milestones for Fine Motor Skills
(From www.childdevelopment.com)
0 - 6 Months
Development
- Reflexive grasp (at birth)
- Global ineffective reach for objects (3 months)
- Voluntary grasp (3 months)
- 2 handed palmar grasp (3 months)
- 1 handed palmar grasp (5 months)
- Controlled reach (6 months)
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
- Poor muscle development
- Delayed ability to play independently
- Delayed sensory development due to delayed interaction with toys and other sensory objects
6 - 12 Months
Development
- Reaches, grasps, puts object in mouth
- Controlled release of objects
- Pincer grasp
- Picks things up with pincer grasp (thumb and one finger)
- Transfers object from one hand to the other
- Drops and picks up toy
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
- Poor muscle development
- Delayed ability to play independently
- Delayed sensory development due to delayed interaction with toys and other sensory objects
1 - 2 Yrs
Development
- Builds tower of three small blocks
- Puts four rings on stick
- Places five pegs in pegboard
- Turns pages two or three at a time
- Scribbles
- Turns knobs
- Paints with whole arm movement, shifts hands, makes strokes
- Self-feeds with minimal assistance
- Able to use signing to communicate
- Brings spoon to mouth
- Holds and drinks from cup independently
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
- Poor development of hand and finger strength
- Delayed independent play skills
- Delayed development of self-care skills such as eating
- Delayed manipulation skills
2 - 3 Yrs
Development
- Strings four large beads
- Turns single pages
- Snips with scissors
- Holds crayon with thumb and fingers (not fist)
- Uses one hand consistently in most activities
- Imitates circular, vertical, horizontal strokes
- Paints with some wrist action, makes dots, lines, circular strokes
- Rolls, pounds, squeezes, and pulls play dough
- Eats without assistance
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
- Delayed self-care skills such as eating
- Delayed pre-writing skills development
- Delayed manipulation of small objects such as toys, pencils and scissors
- Frustration when manipulating small toys and objects
3 - 4 Yrs
Development
- Builds tower of nine small blocks
- Copies circle
- Imitates cross
- Manipulates clay material (rolls balls, makes snakes, cookies)
- Uses non dominant hand to assist and stabilize the use of objects
- Snips paper using scissors
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
- Delayed pre-writing skills development
- Frustration and/or avoidance of pencil based tasks
- Poor pencil grasp and pencil control
- Poor self-care skills such as eating
- Delayed drawing skills
4 - 5 Yrs
Development
- Cuts on line continuously
- Copies cross
- Copies square
- Writes name
- Writes numbers 1-5
- Copies letters
- Handedness well established
- Dresses and undresses independently
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
- Difficulties holding and manipulating a pencil
- Difficulties learning to write name and other letters of the alphabet Dependence on caregivers for every day activities such as dressing
- Frustration and/or avoidance of pencil based tasks
5 - 6 Yrs
Development
- Cuts out simple shapes
- Copies triangle
- Colors within lines
- Uses a 3 fingered grasp of pencil and uses fingers to generate movement
- Pastes and glues appropriately
- Can draw basic pictures
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
- Difficulties learning to form letters correctly
- Poor handwriting
- Difficulties demonstrating academic ability on paper
- Fatigue during pencil based tasks
- Frustration and/or avoidance of pencil based tasks
6 - 7 Yrs
Development
- Forms most letters and numbers correctly
- Writes consistently on the lines
- Demonstrates controlled pencil movement
- Good endurance for writing
- Can build Lego, knex and other blocks independently
- Tie Shoe Laces
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
- Difficulties getting ideas down on paper
- Experiencing fatigue during handwriting tasks
- Difficulty keeping up in class due to slow handwriting speed
- Poor legibility of handwriting
- May impact on self-esteem when comparing work to peers
- Possible frustration and/or behavior difficulties due to avoidance of pencil based tasks
7 - 8 Yrs
Development
-
Maintains legibility of handwriting for entirety of a story
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
- Difficulty completing handwriting tasks in a timely manner
- Experiencing fatigue during handwriting tasks
- Poor academic achievement due to difficulty getting ideas down on paper
- Difficulties due to avoidance of pencil based tasks
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