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Fine Motor Milestones

It is important to know the developmental sequence of skills to help guide you in your play experiences. Each child is very different and has their own strengths and ability levels. Use this chart as a guide to know what skills to work on next. This chart will also help you decide whether or not to have your child’s developmental skills assessed by a professional.

1-3 Months
• Sucks well from a bottle
• Attempts to bring hands together
• Grasps rattle if placed in hands

4-6 Months
• Moves eyes without moving head
• Pulls clothes down when over face
• Brings hands together
• Brings objects to mouth
• Shakes a rattle and looks at it
• Reaches and grasps objects
• Transfers, bangs and drops objects

7-9 Months
• Responds to facial expressions
• Attends to pictures for 1 minute
• Uncovers partially hidden toys
• Holds bottle independently
• Begins to finger-feed self
• Bangs toys together
• Grasps objects with radial digital grasp or inferior pincer grasp

10-12 Months
• Waves “Bye-Bye”
• Holds a spoon
• Helps in dressing by extending arms
• Begins to understand cause-effect
• Pokes with index finger
• Uses a pincer grasp
• Grasps a crayon, begins to scribble
• Puts objects in & out of containers
• Places a block on top of another

13-18 Months
• Understands simple commands
• Removes socks and hat
• Feeds self with spoon, often misses
• Drinks from a spouted cup with help
• Uses trial & error to explore toys
• Places a circle into a puzzle board
• Uses one hand to help the other
• Turns pages in a book
• Builds a 2-3 block tower
• Scribbles spontaneously

19-24 Months
• Attention span starts to increase
• Pretends using real objects in play
• Feeds self well with a spoon
• Drinks from a cup with one hand
• Unzips/zips clothing
• Puts shoes and socks on
• Begins potty training
• Builds a 4-6 block tower
• Snips with scissors
• Holds a crayon with thumb opposite of fingers
• Imitates vertical, horizontal, then circular strokes on paper

25-30 Months
• Plays with other children
• Undresses with minimal assistance
• Unbuttons large buttons
• Washes and dries hands and face with assistance
• Holds spoon with fingers
• Sucks through a straw
• Controls bladder during the day
• Matches shapes
• Unscrews a lid
• Builds a 8-9 block tower
• Holds crayon with thumb and first 2 fingers

31-36 Months
• Follows 2 step directions
• Shares toys and understands turn-taking
• Begins to learn colors
• Uses fork, spoon and napkin
• Brushes teeth with assistance
• Helps with bathing
• Independent with toileting, may need help with wiping and may have occasional accidents
• Dresses with simple clothes
• Buttons large buttons and unsnaps
• Completes a 3-4 piece puzzle
• Stacks rings in order (trail & error)
• Cuts 2 inch snips with scissors
• Draws a circle