Developmental Red Flags
For Fine Motor Skills
Our section on 'fine motor development' is here as a guide
for you. Look for developmental milestones when playing with
your child and try the structured activities listed on each
page. You are your child's greatest teacher, and he or she will
attempt to imitate what you do.
 As
you review each Fine Motor Skills section by Age Group, look for
this flag. If you are concerned that your child is not
engaging in age-appropriate play activities and reaching
developmental milestones, speak with your pediatrician about a
referral for an occupational therapy evaluation.
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
Infants, Toddlers, and Children
Are My Child's Fine Motor Skills Typical?
'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.
 When
we think of fine motor skills those that most often come to mind include:
- Shoe tying
- Writing
- Cutting paper with scissors
However, there are several foundations before your child will acquire
those skills. Those building blocks include stability, bilateral
coordination, and sensation.
Stability is the strength and balance control to keep
one part of the body still while another part moves.
Bilateral coordination is the efficient use of both
hands during activities. One hand will manipulate while the other is the
'helping hand.' Bilateral coordination development will lead to hand
dominance (right- or left-handed).
Sensation is knowing where your hands, arms, and fingers
are, and how they are moving. Once the building blocks are established, your
child develops dexterity, meaning that he or she will use small, accurate,
and precise movements to open containers, pick up tiny objects, stack
blocks, and many other skills.
The following are fine motor developmental stages defining what your
child is learning and controlling. Play activities are listed for you and
your baby or toddler to help promote those all-important foundational
skills.
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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