OT Milestones - Fine and Visual Motor

OT Milestones - Fine and Visual Motor

Better Learning Therapies

Fine motor skills are the skills that require use of the small muscle groups within the forearms, wrist, hand, and fingers. These skills are important for developing coordination and dexterity for completing everyday tasks, such as dressing and writing. Visual motor skills emerge from the integration of visual skills, visual perceptual skills and motor skills that allow us to use our eyes and hands in a coordinated and efficient way.

Below is a list of fine and visual motor developmental milestones from age 0-7 years that you can expect to observe in your child. Keep in mind, each child’s developmental timeline is unique, and this is only meant to be used as a general guideline. Delays noticed in your child may or may not indicate need for occupational therapy services. 


By 1 year:

  • Points with finger

  • Controlled voluntary reach and release

  • Pincer grasp develops (picks up items with thumb and finger)

  • Transfers objects from one hand to another 

By 6 months:

  • Emerging voluntary reach and grasp

  • Palmar grasp

 

By 3 years: 

  • Strings four large beads

  • Turns single pages

  • Snips with scissors

  • Holds crayon with thumb and fingers (not fist)

  • Imitates circular, vertical, horizontal strokes

  • Paints with some wrist action, makes dots, lines, circular strokes

  • Rolls, pounds, squeezes, and pulls PlayDoh

By 2 years:

  • Emerging hand preference

  • Brings objects from fingers to palm 

  • Cylindrical grasp (holding a cup) 

  • Builds tower of three small blocks

  • Turns pages two or three at a time

  • Scribbles

  • Makes strokes with whole arm movement (i.e. painting) 

  • Self-feeds with minimal assistance

  • Brings spoon to mouth

  • Holds and drinks from cup independently 

 

By 5 years: 

  • Thumb/finger opposition 

  • Draws a stick figure 

  • Cuts on straight line continuously

  • Copies cross

  • Copies square

  • Writes numbers 1-5

  • Copies letters

  • Hand preference is well established

  • Dresses and undresses independently

  • Begins to use thumb and index finger to hold pencil/crayon (tripod grasp) 

  • Buttons and unbuttons one button 

  • Stacks 10 plus small blocks

By 4 years: 

  • Spherical grasp (opening lid of jar)

  • Builds tower of nine small blocks

  • Copies circle

  • Imitates cross

  • Manipulates clay material (rolls balls, makes snakes, cookies)

  • Stabilizes with non-dominant hand 

 

By 7 years: 

  • Forms most letters and numbers correctly

  • Writes consistently on the lines

  • Demonstrates controlled pencil movement

  • Good endurance for writing

  • Can build with various blocks independently (i.e. Legos)

  • Ties shoelaces 

By 6 years: 

  • Cuts out simple shapes

  • Copies triangle

  • Colors within lines

  • Writes first name 

  • Hand preference is well established

  • Mature functional grasp is established

  • Pastes and glues appropriately

  • Can draw basic pictures

This post contributed by Caitlin McConnell, MS, OTR/L.

Adapted from: Kid Sense Child Development https://childdevelopment.com.au/ and Rackley, M., Hall, L, Busch, A., Phillips, J, & Myott, F. (2007). Developmental Milestones Guide, Second Edition. Coastal OT Connections, LLC.

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