Each child will develop skills at their own pace. However, there are some skills that seem to occur within specific time frames. This chart is an overview of some of the skills that little ones typically gain between the ages of Birth-5 Years. It also includes some fun, developmentally appropriate activities for each age. Of course, contact your child's pediatrician if you have any concerns regarding their specific development.
1-6 months Fine Motor
Babies are born with a grasping reflex and will close fingers when the palm is touched (newborn to 2 months)
Baby will open hands and attempt to grasp an object (approx. 8 weeks)
Reach toward an object but does not grasp it (approx. 1-4 months)
Throw toys (birth-6mos.)
Visual Motor
Uses vision to reach for and grasp objects accurately (approx. 5-6 months)
Bats at toys and mobiles (birth-6mos.)
What Can Caregivers Do
Offer the infant the opportunity to bat at objects; such as dangling toys on activity mats, bouncy chairs, or placed on the handle of an infant car seat/carrier.
“Tummy Time!” At least 30 minutes (throughout the day) of awake, supervised, play time where the infant is placed on their tummy. This can be done on an activity mat or on a bed or sofa. Offer toys that your child enjoys at this time.
Your child may cry initially when placed on their tummy but this could possibly be the most important thing you can do to promote core strength for your child. She will learn to love being on their tummy.
Offer the infant 2 objects (one in each hand). Encourage reaching and banging the objects together. Use objects with different sensory components such as color, texture, sound, weight.
Vibrating pull toys. Help the child to pull the cord to help the toy vibrate. This develops cause and effect (the concept that if they do something it causes a response).
6-12 months Fine Motor
Crude raking of small object (7 months)
Radial palmer grasp (thumb is opposed) which allows a firm grip around an object (approx. 7 months)
An inferior pincer grasp develops -allowing the child to grasp a small object between the side of the finger and the thumb pad (9 months)
Child is able to isolate index finger (approx.10 months)
Pincer grasp is developed-child is able to hold a small object between its index finger and thumb (approx. 12 months)
Visual Motor
Grasp and throw objects with greater accuracy (approx. 9-12 mos.)
Accurately releases objects into a container (approx. 9-12 mos.)
Self Care
Picks up a spoon by the handle (approx. 1 year)
May hold own bottle (approx. 6-10 mos.), but please do not let them do this exclusively. Children this age still need to be held to promote bonding and a sense of security.
What Can Caregivers Do
Give your child cheerios to eat with their fingers
Tummy time is still important! Ideas include turning pages in a cardboard book, stacking rings on a cone, pushing buttons on an activity mat, looking at self in a mirror.
Playing with blocks
Introduce toys which encourage pointing or pushing buttons to cause a noise or movement
Releasing activities- Dropping blocks or toys into a container to help clean up, tossing a ball to a close target (child can throw ball into the hoop made by your arms)
Give your child a spoon to explore with during meal times. Help your child bring the spoon to their mouth.
12-18 months Fine Motor
Turns pages of cardboard book (approx. 12-15mos.)
Builds 2 cube tower (appox.12-15 mos.)
Stacks 3 blocks (approx.16 months)
Bilateral hand use to navigate their environment (Child uses two hands together)
Visual Motor
Scribbling with a crayon (approx. 12-24 months)
Place rings on a cone (approx.12-24 mos.)
Imitate simple strokes (approx.12-24 mos.)
Grab block and throw it into a container (approx.13 mos.)
Self Care
Can hold crackers and similar shaped foods (approx.12-15mos.)
May be able to use a spoon –but not consistently (approx. 13mos.)
Child may want to try brushing own teeth-but please make sure that you get in there as well! (approx. 16 mos.)
May use a fork (approx. 17-18 mos.)
Hold a cup (approx. 18 mos.)
What Can Caregivers Do
Nesting toys
Play games that require your child to roll balls back and forth
Read board books to your child and encourage them to turn the pages.
Large, interlocking building blocks.
Stacking rings
A toddler golf set
Baseball bat and ball with tee set
Toddler safe musical instrument such as drums, maracas or keyboard
Crayons and paper for scribbling and drawing basic lines. Place the paper on a vertical surface, such as taped to the refrigerator or on an easel; which helps the child use correct posture.
Play with pots, pans,spoons. Allow child to bang these items together to encourage use of both hands together
Playing with stuffed toys helps to develop hand strength.
18-24 months Fine Motor/Visual Motor
Holds a crayon or marker without help (approx. 21 mos.)
May start to use one hand over the other (approx. 21mos.)
Tower of 6 cubes (approx. 22mos.)
Attempts to fold paper (approx.20-23 mos.)
Self-Care
More involvement of using “helping hand” during feeding (approx. 23 months)
Washing hands (approx. 24 mos.)
Pull off shoes (approx. 24 mos.)
Take off clothes (approx.13-24 mos.)
One handed grip on cup
What Can Caregivers Do
Puzzles with large pieces and knobs
Blocks
Use an easel for drawing, painting
Stack cans or plastic containers from kitchen
Offer toys or utensils at the center of the child’s body, instead of the right or left side
Make cards for family members and friends, have your child attempt to fold the paper in half. They will probably need help, but the experience will be beneficial!
2-3 years Fine Motor
Turns pages of a book one at a time
Snip with scissors
Visual Motor
Completes pegboard designs
Child can complete a 3 shape puzzle
Imitates horizontal, vertical lines and circles (approx. 3 years)
Begins to color on paper
Self-Care
Eat with fork and spoon
Zips/unzip zipper
Turns door knobs to open doors
Manipulates buttons on clothing
Start to put away toys after play
What Can Caregivers Do
Play with 1 inch beads
Read books and have your child turn the pages
Have your child attempt to use the zippers and buttons on their clothes
Toss and catch a large soft ball
Roll large balls to knock down bowling pins (use toilet paper rolls)
Play wonder ball
Play with wind-up toys
Snip construction paper/sandpaper with beginner scissors
Use playdough or wiki stix to make shapes
Draw shapes on a cookie sheet covered in sand or shaving cream
Play tiddly winks
3-4 years Fine Motor
Accurately string ½ inch beads
Towers cubes
Cut on a line scissors, but not perfectly. (approx.3.5 years)
Consistent use of the same hand for a task begins to emerge (approx. 3 years)
Visual Motor
Is able to draw and name a circle and cross
Color simple picture
Copy vertical and horizontal lines
Copy a 3 block pyramid
Self-Care
Continue to complete fasteners such as buttons and zippers.
Brush teeth with some skill (Please make sure you have a turn to brush their teeth as well!)
Dress self, possibly with a little help
Put away toys after play
More skill with utensils
What Can Caregivers Do
Craft projects using glue, stickers, and fun items such as pom poms.
Games that use small pieces; such as Cootie and Don’t Spill the Beans.
Games that require the eyes and hands to work together, such as Elefun or trying to keep a balloon up in the air.
Popping bubbles
Games that require tongs
Using building blocks
Lacing cards
Puzzles
Memory games
4-5 years Fine Motor
Demonstrates good use of both hands together (Bilateral Coordination)
Holds crayon or marker with tripod grasp (approx. 5 years)
Preference of one hand (hand dominance) is established (approx. 5 years)
Visual Motor
Draws and Names Pictures
Cuts and pastes simple pictures
Copies simple forms and some letters
Cuts on line with scissors-although not perfectly (approx. 5 years)
May be able to color within the lines (approx. 5 years.)
Reproduces many shapes and letters (approx. 5 years)
Self-Care
May start to learn shoe tying
Complete previously mentioned tasks with more skill, such as fasteners and dressing.
What Can Caregivers Do
Crafts: peel and stick gems
Magnetic picture games
Connect Four
Trouble
Dominos
Help you wrap presents
Rolling dough for cookies
Use glue sticks and hold like a pencil
Trace stencils
Encourage consistent use of preferred hand
Form letters with a variety of mediums (draw in air, build on pegboard, magna doodle)
Each child will develop skills at their own pace. However, there are some skills that seem to occur within specific time frames. This chart is an overview of some of the skills that little ones typically gain between the ages of Birth-5 Years. It also includes some fun, developmentally appropriate activities for each age. Of course, contact your child's pediatrician if you have any concerns regarding their specific development.
1-6 months
Fine Motor
- Babies are born with a grasping reflex and will close fingers when the palm is touched (newborn to 2 months)
- Baby will open hands and attempt to grasp an object (approx. 8 weeks)
- Reach toward an object but does not grasp it (approx. 1-4 months)
- Throw toys (birth-6mos.)
Visual Motor- Uses vision to reach for and grasp objects accurately (approx. 5-6 months)
- Bats at toys and mobiles (birth-6mos.)
What Can Caregivers Do6-12 months
Fine Motor
- Crude raking of small object (7 months)
- Radial palmer grasp (thumb is opposed) which allows a firm grip around an object (approx. 7 months)
- An inferior pincer grasp develops -allowing the child to grasp a small object between the side of the finger and the thumb pad (9 months)
- Child is able to isolate index finger (approx.10 months)
- Pincer grasp is developed-child is able to hold a small object between its index finger and thumb (approx. 12 months)
Visual Motor- Grasp and throw objects with greater accuracy (approx. 9-12 mos.)
- Accurately releases objects into a container (approx. 9-12 mos.)
Self CareWhat Can Caregivers Do
12-18 months
Fine Motor
- Turns pages of cardboard book (approx. 12-15mos.)
- Builds 2 cube tower (appox.12-15 mos.)
- Stacks 3 blocks (approx.16 months)
- Bilateral hand use to navigate their environment (Child uses two hands together)
Visual Motor- Scribbling with a crayon (approx. 12-24 months)
- Place rings on a cone (approx.12-24 mos.)
- Imitate simple strokes (approx.12-24 mos.)
- Grab block and throw it into a container (approx.13 mos.)
Self Care- Can hold crackers and similar shaped foods (approx.12-15mos.)
- May be able to use a spoon –but not consistently (approx. 13mos.)
- Child may want to try brushing own teeth-but please make sure that you get in there as well! (approx. 16 mos.)
- May use a fork (approx. 17-18 mos.)
- Hold a cup (approx. 18 mos.)
What Can Caregivers Do18-24 months
Fine Motor/Visual Motor
- Holds a crayon or marker without help (approx. 21 mos.)
- May start to use one hand over the other (approx. 21mos.)
- Tower of 6 cubes (approx. 22mos.)
- Attempts to fold paper (approx.20-23 mos.)
Self-Care- More involvement of using “helping hand” during feeding (approx. 23 months)
- Washing hands (approx. 24 mos.)
- Pull off shoes (approx. 24 mos.)
- Take off clothes (approx.13-24 mos.)
- One handed grip on cup
What Can Caregivers Do2-3 years
Fine Motor
- Turns pages of a book one at a time
- Snip with scissors
Visual Motor- Completes pegboard designs
- Child can complete a 3 shape puzzle
- Imitates horizontal, vertical lines and circles (approx. 3 years)
- Begins to color on paper
Self-Care- Eat with fork and spoon
- Zips/unzip zipper
- Turns door knobs to open doors
- Manipulates buttons on clothing
- Start to put away toys after play
What Can Caregivers Do3-4 years
Fine Motor
- Accurately string ½ inch beads
- Towers cubes
- Cut on a line scissors, but not perfectly. (approx.3.5 years)
- Consistent use of the same hand for a task begins to emerge (approx. 3 years)
Visual Motor- Is able to draw and name a circle and cross
- Color simple picture
- Copy vertical and horizontal lines
- Copy a 3 block pyramid
Self-Care- Continue to complete fasteners such as buttons and zippers.
- Brush teeth with some skill (Please make sure you have a turn to brush their teeth as well!)
- Dress self, possibly with a little help
- Put away toys after play
- More skill with utensils
What Can Caregivers Do4-5 years
Fine Motor
- Demonstrates good use of both hands together (Bilateral Coordination)
- Holds crayon or marker with tripod grasp (approx. 5 years)
- Preference of one hand (hand dominance) is established (approx. 5 years)
Visual Motor- Draws and Names Pictures
- Cuts and pastes simple pictures
- Copies simple forms and some letters
- Cuts on line with scissors-although not perfectly (approx. 5 years)
- May be able to color within the lines (approx. 5 years.)
- Reproduces many shapes and letters (approx. 5 years)
Self-Care- May start to learn shoe tying
- Complete previously mentioned tasks with more skill, such as fasteners and dressing.
What Can Caregivers Do