Birth to 3 Months
Fine Motor Skills

• Briefly grasps object placed in hand
• Randomly swipes toward dangling objects
• Watches movement of own hands
• Follows object with eyes past midline

Activities:

• Place rattles or toys in child’s hand to initiate grasping
• Place a mobile in child’s crib directly above head and chest for child to follow objects and reach for with hands
• When child is on stomach place toys within arms reach in front

4 to 6 Months
Fine Motor Skills

• Brings hands together in midline
• Visually directs reach and grasp
• Uses full hand grasp
• Transfers toy from hand to hand Activities
  
• Play clapping games with child, such as “Pat-A-Cake”
• Play games, such as “ Where’s the ______?” Have child reach for desired object
• Play a simple version of hide and seek
• Offer opportunities for child to reach for bottle

7 to 9 Months
Fine Motor Skills

• Picks up small object with raking motion
• Holds object in each hand and bangs together
• Finds partially hidden toy or object
• Moves body to look for object fallen from view
• Reorients reversed object (turns object to use it the correct way)
• Holds bottle
• Begins finger feeding

Activities:

• Allow children to play with toys/objects that make noise when banging together (cymbals, blocks)
• Cover part of toy under blanket and say, “Where’s the block?”
• Turn toys upside down, such as a cup
• Provide finger food to child

10 to 12 Months
Fine Motor Skills

• Voluntarily releases object from grasp
• Uses index finger to poke and pry
• Grasps crayon and attempts to scribble
• Turns a page of a cardboard book
• Attempts to stack objects
• Picks up a spoon
• Begins to cooperate in dressing

Activities:

• Allow child to play with playdough in supervised setting
• Allow child to explore scribbling with large crayons
• Encourage child to turn pages of cardboard book during reading time
• Incorporate silverware (spoon) into feeding time
• Allow extra time to begin participating with undressing