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You are here: Home / Child Development / Child Development Printables / Typical Fine Motor Developmental Milestones for Ages 0-6

Typical Fine Motor Developmental Milestones for Ages 0-6

November 4, 2010 By Heather Greutman 7 Comments

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Fine motor developmental milestones for ages 0-6.

Affiliate and Referral links are used below to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission on any purchases made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.

We all hear about the developmental milestones our children should hit like rolling over, crawling, or walking. But fine motor skill milestones are just as important to your child's overall development. Today I want to share fine motor developmental milestones for ages 0-6.

Typical fine motor developmental milestones for ages 0-6. Free printable list included!

This list is the average age a child should meet these milestones, some may hit them before or others later. If you feel like your child is significantly behind in their fine motor development, please talk to your pediatrician or family doctor. This list is not meant to be used to diagnose, simply as information to keep in mind.

Typical Fine Motor Developmental Milestones Ages 0-6

0-3 months old

  • Hands are in a fisted position
  • Arms movements are random and not controlled
  • Will watch the movement of their hands and brings hands to their mouth
  • Will swing at targets (toys, person) using their whole arm
  • Will follow a person's movements with their eyes
  • Will begin to hold objects in their hands

3-6 months

  • Reaches for toys using both arms
  • Begins to transfer objects from one hand to another
  • Will hold their hands together
  • Begins to notice objects a few feet away from them

6-9 months old

  • Begins to grasp & hold onto objects
  • Uses a raking grasp to move objects with fingers
  • Looking for one object while holding another
  • Pokes at objects using their index finger
  • Take objects to their mouth
  • Explore textures and sensory input with their mouths
  • Begin to hold their bottle
  • Squeezes objects with their fist
  • Play with their own hands

9-12 months old

  • Begins to feed themselves finger foods
  • Will turn pages in a book a few pages at a time
  • Begins to put small objects in a cup or container
  • Pincer grasp develops (using index finger and thumb to grasp objects)
  • Transfers objects between hands (beginning of crossing midline skills)
  • Grabs crayons with a fisted grasp
  • Can hold two small objects in one hand
  • Begins to show a preference for one hand over the other (beginning development of right-handed vs. left-handed)

12-18 months old

  • Can build a tower of 2 blocks high
  • Claps hands together (beginning of bilateral coordination!)
  • Waves goodbye
  • Can scoop  objects with a spoon or small shovel
  • Bangs objects together using both hands (beginning of bilateral coordination!)
  • Puts small objects into a container
  • Scribbles with crayons on paper

18 Months – 2 years old

  • Putting rings on pegs
  • Begins holding a crayon with fingertips and thumb
  • Removing pegs from a pegboard
  • Marks or scribbles with a crayon or pencil
  • Can build a tower 3-4 blocks high
  • Can open loosely wrapped packages or containers
  • Begins to start cutting paper with scissors (closer to 2 years old)
  • Can turn pages in a book one page at a time

2 Years old

  • Manipulates clay or play dough
  • Can stack a block tower 9 blocks high
  • Can turn doorknobs
  • Can pick up small objects with pincer grasp (index finger and thumb)
  • Can complete 3 piece puzzles
  • Scribbles
  • Make snips on paper with scissors
  • Will wash hands independently
  • Can screw lids on containers on and off
  • Can string large beads
  • Zips and unzips large zippers
  • Can use a spoon correctly

3 Years Old

  • Can draw a circle after being shown model
  • Cuts a piece of paper in half
  • Copies prewriting lines of vertical, horizontal, and circle shapes
  • Laces a card
  • Can unbutton large buttons
  • Can cut along a wide line with 1/2″ accuracy
  • Will string 1/2 inch beads
  • Cuts along a line with no more than 1/8-1/4 inch deviation from the line
  • Sorts objects
  • Will fasten and unfasten large buttons

4 Years Old

  • Can copy cross shapes, right and left oblique lines “/” “\”, square and X shapes
  • Can touch the tip of each finger to their thumb
  • Can color within a picture with no more than 1/4″ deviations from the coloring lines
  • Can cut big circles with scissors
  • Can move the paper while cutting along a line
  • Completes puzzles of 4-5 pieces
  • Can use a fork correctly
  • Can get dressed and undressed without help
  • Uses dominate hand

5 Years Old

  • Grasps a pencil correctly
  • Begins to print their name
  • Copies a triangle shape
  • Cuts out a circle
  • Opens a lock with a key
  • Draw a diamond shape when given a model
  • Draws a person with at least 6 different body parts
  • Can lace their shoes

6 Years Old

  • Can copy first name
  • Builds a small structure with blocks
  • Can put a 16-20 piece puzzle together
  • Uses a knife to cut food
  • Cuts well with scissors, no deviations from the cutting line
  • Prints 3 or more simple words
  • Can print all numbers 0-9
  • Can print all letters of the alphabet, upper case and lower case

Resources:

Developmental Milestones

Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (PDMS-2)

Occupational Therapy for Children And Adolescents, Jane Case-Smith & Jane Clifford O-Brien

My friend Angela at Teaching Mama also has some great fine motor activity ideas.

Free Printable Download of Fine Motor Developmental Milestones for Ages 0-6

Subscribe to Growing Hands-On Kids to get my weekly newsletter filled with tips and activity suggestions just like this post. As a free gift, I'll send you your copy of the “Typical Fine Motor Developmental Milestones for Ages 0-6” printable.

Enter your e-mail address below and clicking the green “Click Here” button. You will need to check your e-mail to confirm your subscription (double check your spam folder).

Once you confirm using the link provided in your e-mail, the download will automatically be sent to your computer. Double-check your “downloads folder” and save it to your computer for future reference.

You'll also be receiving my fine motor tips email series. You can unsubscribe at any time.

If you've already subscribed to GHOK before, no worries, you aren't actually subscribing again. By entering your email below, it just lets my email provider know which printable to send to you. You won't receive replicate emails from me.

I've also written a book all about fine motor skills called Basics of Fine Motor Skills – Developmental Activities for Kids. There are ebook and paperback versions available. It goes into great detail about fine motor skill development and the activities needed to promote good fine motor skills in kids of all ages and abilities.

Follow Heather @ Golden Reflections Blog's board Fine Motor Skills Prek & Up on Pinterest.

You May Also Like: 

Fine Motor Skills Checklist for kids ages 0-6+ free download.
  • Fine Motor Skills Checklists for Ages 0-6
  • Fine Motor Activities for Ages 0-2
  • Fine Motor Activities for Ages 2-4
  • Fine Motor Activities for Ages 4-6

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Filed Under: Child Development Printables, Fine Motor, Fine Motor Printables Tagged With: Child Development, Fine Motor, For Parents, For Teachers, For Therapists, Writing Activities

Reader Interactions

CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
All information on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult with a medical professional if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. The information on the Websites does not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one-on-one treatment session with an individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. The information provided on the Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.
Do not rely on the information on the Website as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment as a result of any information provided on the Website. All medical information on the Website is for informational purposes only.
All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.
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Comments

  1. Angelina says

    October 24, 2013 at 10:34 pm

    This is a very handy list, thank you! Such a beautiful, clear and helpful blog! Love it! I also love your Proverbs motto!
    Dropping by from KBN FB hop! (Pinning and liking!) Wonderful place!
    Have a great weekend,
    Ang

    Reply
    • Heather Greutman says

      October 25, 2013 at 9:16 pm

      Thanks so much, you are too kind!! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Vanessa says

    May 12, 2014 at 1:13 pm

    This is wonderful information! I will refer back to this when thinking up activities for my developing child. Thanks for putting this together 🙂

    Reply
  3. Devon says

    March 9, 2017 at 10:40 am

    I adore the printable – so much good information. Do you know of any Spanish translation ones that are good as well by chance?

    Reply
  4. Adeniji Rafiat Arike says

    February 1, 2018 at 2:51 pm

    I must confess have really benefitted from your free printable ma.May God Almighty continue to increase you in knowledge.

    Reply
  5. Lyndsay says

    April 10, 2018 at 2:22 pm

    I loved reading through these. Only point though, from a Math perspective, age 5, it’s not called a diamond, its a rhombus or parallelogram. Children have to be retaught it if told wrong the first time.

    Reply
  6. Aliyeh says

    July 16, 2018 at 8:45 am

    Hello, thank you for excellent content in your website. Im an occupational therapist.
    please put some directions about instruments which help hand writting in cerebral palsy children.

    Reply

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