Developmental Milestones: Fine Motor and Visual Motor Skills

Motor Skills &
Additional Skills Developing
1 month
Eyes can follow an object towards the middle or starting at the middle to either side.
Tightly grasp objects placed child’s hands.
1-3 months: Infant attempts to swipe or hit
objects.
2 months
Eyes can follow an object to the right and left sides,
Past the midline.
Can briefly hold small toys placed in child’s hands.
May begin to notice their own hands.
2-6 months: Infant inspects own hands and
Reaches for but may not actually touch objects.
3 months
Eyes can follow objects in a circular motion.
Hands are more relaxed.
Infant is able to look at an object and will attempt to reach for that object.
3-7 months: Child is able to hold a small object in each hand.
4-5 months
Touches fingers together
Begins reaching with both hands at the same time.
Able to reach and grasp a small toy using both hands.
Touches or bangs an object on a table or hard surface.
6 months
Reaches for an object with right or left hand.
Shakes a rattle.
Uses all fingers at the same time to pick up small object.
7 months
Transfers a small object from one hand to the other.
7-8 months: Child the pads of thumb and index finger to pick up small objects like Cheerios.
8 months
Able to pull an item that is placed vertically in Playdoh.
Able to hold an object with the pad of the thumb facing the pad of the index finger.
Can poke objects with the index finger.
9 months
Uses thumb and index finger to pick up small objects like Cheerios.
Bangs two objects together (i.e. two blocks)
Claps hands.
10 months
Pull out three items that are placed vertically in Playdoh.
Releases an object into an adult’s hand upon request.
11 months
Places small objects into a medium or large container.
Can place multiple medium sized objects (i.e. blocks) Into a container.
12-14 months
Able to let go of an object (i.e. throw a ball) and picking It up again.
Can turn the cover or single thick pages of a book.
Removes or dumps out objects from a container.
Is able to point finger at objects.
Can place a simple shape (i.e. circle or square) into a puzzle board.
Can place small objects into a small container.
Begins to make small marks on a paper.
15-17 months
Can build a two block tower.
Scribbles spontaneously (without demonstration).
18-23 months
Can build a four to six block tower.
Can turn a few thick pages at time in a book.
Can push, pull or dump things out.
24-29 months
Imitates drawing a vertical line.
Is able to remove a screw/twist on lid to a container.
Child can turn one page at a time when looking at a book.
Can build an eight block tower.
Imitates horizontal strokes on paper.
Can string four large beads onto a piece of yarn.
30-36 months
Can build a 10 block tower.
Copies a circle on paper.
Snips paper with child safe scissors
36 months
Can cut a paper in half with child safe scissors.
#finemotor #developmentalmilestones #believetherapies #visualmotorskills #timeline