Fine Motor Skills Checklist for Early Elementary (Ages 6+)
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Over the last few weeks, I've been sharing some fine motor skill checklist ideas to help improve fine motor development. You've probably seen many news articles talking about how children are reaching Kindergarten with decreased fine motor skills. By providing these checklists, I am hoping to give you an idea of what your child should be doing from the time they are born, until early elementary age.
Today's fine motor skills checklist is for early elementary (ages 6 and 6+).
Fine Motor Skills for Early Elementary-Age Children
This is the age that we typically think of Kindergarten and 1st grade. If you homeschool, your Kindergarten child maybe 6, depending on when you decide to start and when your state's compulsory school age is.
Many of the skills are more academic in nature, but remember hands-on fine motor activities are still important at this age.
Fine Motor Development for 6-Year-Olds
- Copies their first name
- Builds a small structure with blocks
- Puts a 16-20 piece puzzle together
- Uses a knife to cut food
- Cuts well with scissors, with no deviations from the cutting line
- Prints 3 or more simple words
- Prints all numbers 0-9
- Prints all letters of the alphabet, uppercase, and lowercase
Fine Motor Development to Ages 6+
- Fully developed eye-hand coordination
- Uses all eating utensils appropriately
- Helps with household chores (sweeping, moping, dusting, etc)
- Takes care of pets (feeding, grooming, walking, etc)
- Draws detailed and complex shapes or pictures
- Begins to develop writing and handwriting habits and skills
- Competes in sports activities appropriately
- Have hobbies they enjoy and complete independently
- Learns a musical instrument
- Begins computer skills and use video games
- Draws with greater control and precision
- Rides a two-wheeled bike
- Learns to swim
- Moves in time to the beat or rhythm of music
- Twists and spins in place
- Combines motor skills such as running and kicking or moves to music
Free Fine Motor Skills Checklist for Early Elementary
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DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE
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Heather Greutman, COTA
Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based OT services for preschool through high school. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies for parents, educators, and therapists. She is the author of many ebooks including The Basics of Fine Motor Skills, and Basics of Pre-Writing Skills, and co-author of Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators.
good morning Heather!
I have a question! I’m a little confused how to access your materials. I am already a subscriber. So let’s say I get your e-mail, in this case this one, fine motor skills checklist for early elementary. When you click on the link to get the free download you are asked to provide e-mail and then another e-mail is sent to confirm subscription. But I am already a subscriber.
I feel like everytime I want to get the handout I am subscribing again and so I am now getting like 3 e-mails! two at my mankeney@cpsk12.org address and one at my mankeney13@gmail.com. Am I doing something wrong?
thanks! I always look forward to your tips and resources. Please advice best way to access these items without resubscribing!
Best regards,
Mary Ellen
Hi Mary Ellen,
If you are already subscribed, it should not be counting you more than once, so not sure why you are getting duplicate e-mails. I am going to reach out to my provider and see if there is something I need to do in order to make sure this doesn’t happen. So sorry you are getting so many e-mails.
would love a finemotor checklist and some tips for 7 year old with very poor fine motor skills
Hi Karen, there really aren’t specific skills that 7-year-olds are working on other than perfecting and mastering the skills listed on the checklist by age 6+. The biggest difference is they should be able to tie their own shoes by 7 years old. Also at this age, they can begin keyboarding skills with the hunt and peck method. They are also able to cut out more complex shapes. As far as activities, I will write a post with some fine motor activity ideas for older ages. Depending on how delayed their skills are, you may be able to adapt preschool or kindergarten age activities for them, depending on what their interests are.
I am already subscribed but it’s asking me for my info again rather than just giving me access to the link?! What should I do?
Joni Pearce
Hi Joni, You will need to put your email address in again so my email provider knows which email/link to send you. It does not subscribe you again, if you are already an email subscriber, so you will not get duplicate emails.