Developmental Red Flags
16-20 Months
An early childhood intervention/ development therapy referral
may be appropriate if your child is exhibiting any of these red
flag symptoms:
- Still using a fisted grasp to hold a crayon at 18 months
of age
- Not using a mature pincer grasp (thumb and index finger,
pad to pad) by 18 months of age
- Excessive mouthing
- By 18 months, most babies will point to
pictures while looking at books, release objects into
containers, use both hands during play, one hand to
stabilize toys or containers while the other grasps and
releases objects ' and prefer one hand over the other.
Therapy Options
Thankfully, there are many ways to deal with delays in child
development and behaviors.
These include in-home services, outpatient (you take your child
to a clinic), inpatient (following injury or surgery) and school
based services. Which type of therapy should you choose?
Visit our Therapy
Options area to learn more.
Ask a Therapist
We understand developmental milestones and the challenges of
Special Needs children. We spend a great deal of time with
families understanding the inner workings of childhood routines
and interactions. Ask us about your child today!
Ask a Therapist
Fine Motor Skills for Toddlers
16-20 Months
By 18 Months, most toddlers can:
- Build a tower using 2 cubes
- Use hands together at midline (middle of the body)
- Scribble
- Point with pointer finger
- Hold cup and drink - some spilling will occur
- Remove socks
- Place hats on heads
Parenting Tips for Fine Motor Skills:
You can help with baby developmental milestones. Suggested play to help
a baby 16 to 20 months of age develop fine motor skills:
- Let your baby be a chef! Have your baby wash its hands and show it
how to tear lettuce or spinach leaves. Remember to tell the family who
made the salad.
- Teach knife skills. Using a plastic knife, show your baby how to
scoop and spread jelly or butter onto a piece of bread.
- Create edible art. Give your toddler a small container of Cheerios
or other round cereal and a clean shoelace or piece of string with tape
around the edges to make it stiff. Show your baby how to string the
Cheerios, and then eat them.
- Create daily place mats. While you're busy making dinner, your
toddler can be busy making place mats. Drawing is a great activity for
his/her little hands.
Fine Motor Skills by Age Group
'Fine motor' refers to the development of small muscle movements of the
hands. Fine motor skills develop as your child's whole body gains mobility,
stability, cognitive, and emotional/social development. Fine motor skills
that come to mind are shoe tying, writing, and cutting paper with scissors.
Contact Information
Find Early Intervention
Support contacts in your State. If you have a question or comment for
us, please visit our Contact page.
Early Intervention Helps with Developmental Delay
For children with Special Needs, intervention in early childhood
development means finding specific ways to help a child become as functional
as possible.
Learn more on our Parenting
Tips
page.
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