Fine Motor Developmental Milestones and Interventions 1

Fine Motor Developmental Milestones

Type of Fine Motor Skill Age and AcquisitionGrasping Pellet Birth – Baby does not voluntarily grasp or attend visually to objects

3 months – Baby visually attends to objects but makes no attempt to voluntarily grasp

6 months – “Raking” (simultaneous flexion of all digits) to collect pellets when presented several at one time

7 months – Inferior scissor grasp

8 months – Scissor grasp

9 months – Inferior pincer grasp

10 months – Pincer grasp

12 months – Fine pincer grasp

Grasping Cube Birth – Baby visually attends to object but grasp is reflexive

3 months – Baby may swipe at object; maintaining voluntary grasp of object is possible following contact with object with use of ulnar side of hand, flexion of wrist, and no involvement of thumb

4 months – Primitive squeeze grasp with no involvement of the thumb; hand pulls object back to squeeze it against other hand or body part. Baby approaches object if within 1 inch.

5 months – Palmar grasp; fingers on top surface of object force object into center of palm

Fine Motor Developmental Milestones and Interventions 2

6 months – Radial palmar grasp

7 months – Radial palmar grasp with wrist straight

8 months – Radial digital grasp

9 months – Radial digital grasp with extension of wrist

Releasing Skills Birth to 1 month – No release skills

1-4 months – Involuntary release

5-6 months – Two stage transferring of objects

6-7 months – One stage transferring of objects

7-9 months – Voluntary release of objects

9 months – Release of objects by full extension of the upper extremity

*Refinement of release skills continues up until 4 years of age with acquisition of graded release

Manipulation Skills 12-15 months – Finger to palm translations

2-2.5 years – Palm to finger translations and simple rotation (e.g., twisting a bottle open)

3-5 years – Shifting to separate paper

3-6+ years – Rolling clay into a ball

5-6+ years – Shifting on writing utensil

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6-7 years – Complex rotation (e.g., using the eraser on a pencil) and using in-hand manipulation with stabilization

Pre-Writing Skills 1-1.5 years – Palmar supinate grasp

2-3 years – Digital pronate grasp

3.5-4 years – Static tripod grasp

4.5-6 years – Dynamic tripod grasp

Scissor Skills 2-3 years – Shows interest in using scissors, holds and snips, and opens and closes scissors in controlled fashion

3-4 years – Manipulates scissors in forward motion, coordinates lateral motion, and cuts straight forward line

3.5-4.5 years – Cuts circles

4-6 years – Cuts simple figures

6-7 years – Cuts complex geometric figures

Fine Motor Developmental Milestones and Interventions 4

Interventions for Fine Motor Skill Acquisition

Fine Motor Skill Intervention IdeasFine Pincer Grasp Make cookies with sprinkles or Christmas trees using Play-Doh and beads.

Image retrieved from http://www.childcarelandblog.com/2013/12/playdough-and-pony-bead-christmas-trees.html

Pull lightweight scarves from holey ball. This activity also promotes bilateral coordination and motor planning.

Retrieved from http://lalymom.com/15-pincer-grasp-activities-for-toddlers-and-preschoolers/

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Remove overlapping masking tape from smooth horizontal or vertical surfaces. This activity also promotes motor planning and problem-solving.

Image retrieved from http://www.sugaraunts.com/2015/10/what-is-neat-pincer-grasp-and-activity-for-fine-motor-skills.html

Replicate a game of “Angry Birds” using clothespins, pipe cleaners, and small pom-poms.

Image retrieved from http://lalymom.com/15-pincer-grasp-activities-for-toddlers-and-preschoolers/

Fine Motor Developmental Milestones and Interventions 6

Match and screw on the correct nut and bolt.

Image retrieved from http://www.rockabyebutterfly.com/2012/01/wood-working-workshop.html

Manipulation Skills Instruct child to roll Play-Doh into small balls to create game pieces. Encourage child to translate game pieces from their palm to fingertips and place on smooth vertical surface. This activity also promotes extension of the wrist and problem-solving skills.

Image retrieved from http://therapyfunzone.net/blog/play-doh-connect-four/

Roll the letter dice. Place pegs in peg board using proper letter formation. In

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addition to in-hand manipulation skills, this activity promotes tripod grasping pattern.

Image retrieved from http://www.sugaraunts.com/2016/03/alphabet-dice-letter-formation-fine-motor-activity.html

Button together felt loops to create a long chain.

Image retrieved from http://www.tipsfromatypicalmomblog.com/2013/07/diy-felt-button-chain-learning-fine.html

Sorting and counting money and change promote palm-to-finger and finger-to-palm translations in addition to shifting skills.

Fine Motor Developmental Milestones and Interventions 8

Image retrieved from http://www.breezyspecialed.com/search/label/Math

Rotate two small object in one hand simultaneously.

Image retrieved from http://therapyfunzone.com/blog/ot/fine-motor-skills/in-hand-manipulation/

Dynamic Tripod Grasp Instruct child to hold cotton ball or pom-pom between their 4th and 5th digits during handwriting tasks.

Fine Motor Developmental Milestones and Interventions 9

Image retrieved from http://www.teachingace.com/pencil-grip-tip/

Cut out two small holes in a sock for the thumb and index finger. Encourage child to wear sock during handwriting tasks to promote use of dynamic tripod grasp.

Image retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AYqnJEImZ9Ce4LGQ3wjkkgBwyg3s GmFFDstnT5YvP8oH_FtmMX_qhfE/

Using rock crayons forces children to use tripod grasp and prepares them for using writing utensils.

Fine Motor Developmental Milestones and Interventions 10

Image retrieved from http://stillparenting.blogspot.com/2011/06/homemade-crayon-rocks.html

Poke pushpins through cork board in the outline of shapes to strengthen tripod grasp pattern

Image retrieved from http://tiredneedsleep.blogspot.com/2010/06/preschool-corner-weekly-wrap-up.html

Place the end of the pencil in the small loop with the child’s wrist in the large loop. Instruct the child to hold the dolphin (or other small object) underneath their 4th and 5th digits. Use of the “handi-writer” or other adaptive accessories (e.g., pencil gripper such as the “crossover”) will prevent extra

Fine Motor Developmental Milestones and Interventions 11

fingers from crawling up the writing utensil and ensure that the pencil rests in web-space.

Image retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Pediatric-Supply-HandiWriter-Handwriting/dp/B001GXPH76/?ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_2

Use adaptive chopsticks, a clear plastic jar, and cotton balls to build a snowman.

Image retrieved from http://therapyfun4kids.blogspot.com/2015/01/home-made-fine-motor-activity_23.html

Scissor Skills Cut on resistive materials (e.g., Play-Doh, sponges) to promote hand strength or use slightly thicker paper (e.g., cardstock, construction paper) for children who demonstrate difficulty managing paper.

Fine Motor Developmental Milestones and Interventions 12

Image retrieved from http://www.powerfulmothering.com/tons-of-ideas-for-practicing-cutting-skills-a-fine-motor-must/?utm_source=pre-kpages.com&utm_medium=referral &utm_campaign=pubexchange_facebook

Use a fun visual cue to encourage proper hand placement when using scissors.

Image retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/98925031@N08/9640080092/

Provide visual cues (e.g., numbers, stickers) for proper hand placement to rotate paper when cutting simple and complex shapes.

Fine Motor Developmental Milestones and Interventions 13

Image retrieved from http://mamaot.com/trick-help-kids-learn-turn-paper-cutting/

Punch holes in the outline of shapes to promote hand strength for scissor skills and management of paper.

Image retrieved from http://www.missmancy.com/top-10-ot-fine-motor-tools-under-1/

Create and cut out your own puzzle design.

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Image retrieved from http://www.howweelearn.com/spring-tulip-name-puzzle/

References

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Amazon. (2015). Handi-writer handwriting tool. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Pediatric-Supply-HandiWriter-Handwriting/dp/B001GXPH76/?ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_2

Bennett, B. & Smith, C. (2015). Homemade fine motor activity. Retrieved from http://therapyfun4kids.blogspot.com/2015/01/home-made-fine-motor-activity_23.html

Breezy Special Ed. (2016). Lessons from a high school functional classroom. Retrieved from http://www.breezyspecialed.com /search/label/Math

Case-Smith, J. (2010). Development of childhood occupations (chapter 3). In J. Case-Smith & J. O’Brien. Occupational therapy for children (pp. 56-83). Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby Elsevier.

ChildCareLand Blog. (2013). Playdough and pony bead Christmas trees. Retrieved from http://www.childcarelandblog.com/2013/ 12/playdough-and-pony-bead-christmas-trees.html

Craig, E. (2013). Scissors with googly eyes. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/98925031@N08/9640080092/

How We Learn. (2016). Spring tulip name puzzle. Retrieved from http://www.howweelearn.com/spring-tulip-name-puzzle/

Mama OT. (2016). Cool trick to help kids learn to turn the paper while cutting. Retrieved from http://mamaot.com/trick-help-kids-learn-turn-paper-cutting/

Marschel, L. (2016). Fifteen pincer grasp activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Retrieved from http://lalymom.com/15-pincer-grasp-activities-for-toddlers-and-preschoolers/

Miss Mancy. (2013). Top ten OT fine motor tools under $1. Retrieved from http://www.missmancy.com/top-10-ot-fine-motor-tools-under-1/

Moffett Boyd, M. E., Garbarini, J. G., D’Angelo, L. K., O’Sullivan, S. B., & Fleming-Castaldy, R. P. (2014). Human development across the lifespan: pediatric through geriatric considerations for occupational therapy practice. In R. Fleming-Castaldy (7th Ed.), National occupational therapy certification exam: review and study guide (pp. 113-156). Evanston, IL: TherapyEd.

Powerful Mothering. (2014). Tons of ideas for practicing cutting skills (a fine motor must). Retrieved from http://www.powerful mothering.com/tons-of-ideas-for-practicing-cutting-skills-a-fine-motor-must/?utm_source=pre-kpages.com&utm_medium =referral&utm_campaign=pubexchange_facebook

Rockabye Butterfly. (2012). Wood working workshop. Retrieved from http://www.rockabyebutterfly.com/2012/01/wood-working-workshop.html

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Stillparenting. (2011). Homemade crayon rocks. Retrieved from http://stillparenting.blogspot.com/2011/06/homemade-crayon-rocks.html

Sugar Aunts. (2016). Fine motor alphabet letter formation activity with dice and a peg board. Retrieved from http://www.sugar aunts.com/2016/03/alphabet-dice-letter-formation-fine-motor-activity.html

Sugar Aunts. (2016). Neat pincer grasp activity for fine motor function. Retrieved from http://www.sugaraunts.com/2015/10/what-is-neat-pincer-grasp-and-activity-for-fine-motor-skills.html

Therapy Fun Zone. (2016). In hand manipulation. Retrieved from http://therapyfunzone.com/blog/ot/fine-motor-skills/in-hand-manipulation/

Therapy Fun Zone. (2016). Play-Doh connect four. Retrieved from http://therapyfunzone.net/blog/play-doh-connect-four/

Teaching Ace. (2016). Pencil grip tip. Retrieved from http://www.teachingace.com/pencil-grip-tip/

Tips From a Typical Mom. (2013). DIY felt button chain – learning fine motor skills and colors. Retrieved from http://www.tips fromatypicalmomblog.com/2013/07/diy-felt-button-chain-learning-fine.html

Tired, Need Sleep. (2010). Pre-school corner/weekly wrap-up – dinosaurs. Retrieved from http://tiredneedsleep.blogspot.com /2010/06/preschool-corner-weekly-wrap-up.html