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Overview of Fine and Gross Motor Development

These are the typical stages of development please remember that all children grow and develop at different rates. This will give you a rough idea of major motor skills that your child should be performing. If you have any concerns contact your pediatrician or an occupational therapist.

3 months

• Roll prone to supine
• Able to maintain slight weight on forearms in prone to lift head
• Grasps toy when given to them
• Brings hands to mouth
• Track a moving object with their eyes

6 months

• Hold head upright in sitting with little support
• Roll over supine to prone and reverse
• Pull up to sitting with hands held
• Transfer toys to each hand, brings to midline
• Reach, grasp and purposefully release toys

12 months

• Able to crawl and stand up
• Able to perform side sitting
• Able to lower from sit to stand
• Begins cruising around furniture
• Drinks from open cup with help
• Uses a pincer grasp to finger feed, and may begin playing with spoon

2 years

• Improved running speed
• Attempts to jump off things
• Walk up stairs with help
• Feed themselves with a spoon (messy)
• Explore surroundings
• Build a tower of 5-6 blocks
• Holds crayon and imitates vertical and horizontal lines

3 years

• Jump up and over things with both feet
• Propel a riding toy with feet
• Throw a ball overhand and try to catch
• Dress themselves with help
• Complete form board puzzles
• Copies a circle and a cross with a fisted or 4 finger grasp
• Builds tower using 9 blocks

4 years

• Able to pedal tricycle
• Able to hop on 1 foot
• Able to throw and catch a small ball
• Holds a pencil with a tripod (3 point) grasp
• Copies a square and diagonal lines
• Trace lines and begins to trace name
• Cuts along line with scissors
• Begins to unbutton, unsnap and pull up a zipper

5 years

• Able to walk along balance beam
• Rides bike with training wheels
• Able to jump forward and sideways
• Draws a picture of a stick person
• Begins to write name and copy upper case letters
• Cuts out circle and square
• Begins to dress without assistance
• Identifies objects by sense of touch

6 years

• Attempts to ride bike without training wheels
• Skips forward
• Uses dynamic tripod pencil grasp
• Is able to write upper case letters, copy lower case letters and beings to copy words
• Cuts out pictures following their shape
• Puts together 10-piece interlocking puzzle
• Buttons, snaps and engages zipper

* Taken from Help Strands Assessment Birth to Three Years, VORT Corporation, 1996 Help for Preschoolers Ages 3-6 years VORT Cooperation, 1999.