Through the Years Fine and Gross Motor Skills in Children By Terri Mauro Terri Mauro Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Terri Mauro is the author of "50 Ways to Support Your Child's Special Education" and contributor to the Parenting Roundabout podcast. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 30, 2022 Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD LinkedIn Sarah Rahal, MD is a double board-certified adult and pediatric neurologist and headache medicine specialist. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD LinkedIn Elaine Hinzey is a fact checker, writer, researcher, and registered dietitian. Learn about our editorial process Print Paul Bradbury / Caiaimage / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Fine Motor Skills Gross Motor Skills Motor Skill Delays Motor skills are skills that enable the movements and tasks we do every day. Learning these skills is a crucial part of child development. Fine motor skills are those that require a high degree of control and precision and use the small muscles of the hand or wrist (such as using a fork or crayon). Gross motor skills use the large muscles in the body to allow for balance, coordination, reaction time, and physical strength so that we can do bigger movements, such as walking, running, and jumping. Motor skills enable the movements children need for everyday tasks, from playing and feeding themselves to moving from place to place. Typically, children develop certain motor skills at specific ages, but not every child will reach milestones at precisely the same time. A child with motor impairments has trouble moving in a controlled, coordinated, and efficient way. If your child seems to be delayed in developing fine or gross motor skills, they will likely undergo an assessment and may require physical or occupational therapy to catch up. Fine Motor Skills Fine motor skill activities involve manual dexterity and often require coordinating movements of the hands and fingers with the eyes, which is known as hand-eye coordination. Components of fine motor skills include being able to grip and manipulate objects, use both hands for a task, and use just the thumb and one finger to pick something up rather than the whole hand. The following are just a few examples of fine motor skills that typically occur at different phases of child development. Birth to 3 Months Uses arms to swing or "bat" at objects Watches hands move and brings them to the mouth 3 to 6 Months Begins to transfer objects from one hand to anotherHolds own hands togetherReaches for toys using both arms 6 to 9 Months Begins to grasp & hold onto objects, such as a bottle or toysSqueezes objectsUses a raking grasp to move objects with fingers 9 to 12 Months Begins to show a preference for one hand over the otherPuts small objects in a cup or containerTurns pages in a book a few pages at a timeDevelops pincer grasp (using index finger and thumb to grasp objects)Feeds themselves finger foods 12 to 18 Months Builds a tower two blocks highScoops objects with a spoon or small shovelClaps handsScribbles with crayons on paperWaves goodbye 18 Months to 2 Years Begins holding a crayon with fingertips and thumbBuilds a tower three to four blocks highOpens loosely wrapped packages or containersTurns pages in a book one page at a timePuts rings on pegs Age 2 Stacks a block tower nine blocks highTurns doorknobsWashes hands independentlyZips and unzips large zippersManipulates clay or play dough Age 3 Folds a piece of paper in halfDraws a circle after being shown an exampleFastens and unfastens large buttons Age 4 Gets dressed and undressed without helpTouches the tip of each finger to the thumbUses a fork correctly Age 5 Cuts out a circleCopies a triangle shapeGrasps a pencil correctlyTies shoelaces Age 6 Builds a small structure with blocksPuts a 16 to 20 piece puzzle togetherCuts well with scissorsUses a knife to cut food You can encourage your baby to improve their fine motor skills by laying them under a play gym, using wrist or ankle rattles, or moving a colorful toy around so they can visually track it. For toddlers, activities that might improve fine motor skills include encouraging them to pick up objects with tongs, building with blocks, and doing craft projects. You can also encourage toddlers and preschoolers to play with play-dough, sponges, pasta, or water toys. Improve Fine Motor Skills With These Fun Activities Gross Motor Skills Gross motor skills are movements that involve large muscle groups and are generally more broad and energetic than fine motor movements. These movements include walking, kicking, jumping, and climbing stairs. Some milestones for gross motor skills also involve eye-hand coordination, such as throwing or catching a ball. The following are some examples of gross motor skills that typically occur at different phases of childhood development. 3 to 6 Months Raises arms and legs when placed on the stomachRolls overSupports own head when in a sitting position 6 Months to 12 Months CrawlsPulls self from a sitting to a standing positionSits without support Age 1 Climbs onto low furnitureClimbs stairs with assistancePulls or pushes toys with wheelsWalks with one hand held Age 2 Jumps using both feet simultaneouslyRuns very stiffly on toesWalks upstairs without a banister Age 3 Rides tricycle using pedals, unassisted by an adultRuns without fallingThrows a ball to an adult standing 5 feet away Age 4 Catches a ball with arms and bodyRuns smoothly with changes in speedWalks upstairs by alternating feet Age 5 Catches a ball with two handsHops on one footPerforms jumping jacks and toe touchesWalks up and down the stairs while carrying objects Age 6 Kicks rolling ballJumps over objects 10 inches highRides a bicycle with training wheelsThrows with accurate placement Encourage your baby to work on their gross motor skills by doing lots of tummy time. Once they master that, encourage them to reach for (and later crawl towards) toys placed in front of them. To encourage your baby to walk, help them stand and take steps by holding their arms. With toddlers and preschoolers, encourage them to build forts, dance to songs like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," play pretend, and pull their toys in wagons. 27 Gross Motor Skills Activities for Little Kids Motor Skill Delays Children with neurological conditions or developmental delays may have difficulty with fine motor skills. Difficulties with fine motor skills often aren't diagnosed until preschool when it becomes more obvious that children are struggling with different school activities, such as learning to copy shapes or letters. Some children will be diagnosed with dysgraphia, a learning difference that affects writing skills, while others might be diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder (DCD or dyspraxia), a condition that is still not widely understood. Kids with fine motor skill difficulties might need occupational therapy, modifications, or assistive technology. It may be easier to notice if your child isn't reaching gross motor skill milestones than fine motor milestones because gross motor skills are among the most anticipated; you're probably eagerly anticipating your baby rolling over, crawling, pulling themselves up along furniture, and taking their first steps. As a child grows, you note when they are running and playing and how well they do in physical games and sports. Children with neurological problems, developmental delays, or disabilities will usually be diagnosed by their pediatrician if they consistently miss major milestones. Gross motor skill delays may also be a sign of dyspraxia. If children's gross motor delays affect movements, they may receive physical therapy to help with gross motor skills or they may need modifications or assistive technology to keep up with mobility or athletics. A Word From Verywell While each child is different, don't hesitate to discuss any concerns about your child's motor skills with your pediatrician. If your child is referred to occupational therapy or physical therapy, you will be involved in the therapy and will be given instructions on how to work with your child at home to build their motor skills. 5 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC's developmental milestones. NAPA Center. Occupational therapy vs. physical therapy. Dosman CF, Andrews D, Goulden KJ. Evidence-based milestone ages as a framework for developmental surveillance. Paediatr Child Health. 2012;17(10):561-568. doi:10.1093/pch/17.10.561 Understood. Dysgraphia. Understood. What is dyspraxia? Additional Reading Growing Hands-On Kids. Typical Fine Motor Developmental Milestones. By Terri Mauro Terri Mauro is the author of "50 Ways to Support Your Child's Special Education" and contributor to the Parenting Roundabout podcast. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit