Motor Skill Development

Please click the age range you would like to learn more about. Under each age range is information pertaining to fine and gross motor development. If you recognize any of these delays in your child, it is recommended that your child be evaluated as soon as possible as you may be able to prevent any further delays in development.

Birth to

• 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months
• 5 Months 6 Months 7 Months
• 8 Months 10 Months 12 Months
• 15 Months 18 Months 24 Months
• 30 Months 36 Months

Birth to 2 Months:

• Does not blink
• Does not grasp objects placed near palm
• Doesn’t lift head in prone position (while lying on their tummy)
• Does not turn head to one side in prone position
• Does not turn head to both sides in supine position (lying on back)
• Does not cry when hungry or uncomfortable
• Cry does not vary in pitch, length and volume to indicate different needs
• Difficulty coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing when feeding from a bottle or breast
• Significant loss of breast milk/formula out of side of mouth during feeding and/or gagging

3 Months

• Does not follow an object with his or her eyes
• Hands remain closed almost all of the time
• Frequently resists being held
• Becomes upset when moved, as when being picked up, laid down, or handled
• Does not hold head up 90 degrees in prone (lying on stomach)
• Does not extend both legs or kick reciprocally
• Does not roll to back when placed on their side
• Vocalizes separately from body movements (sound is not a response to body movement)
• Inability to establish or maintain face to face communication during feeding
• Does not vocalize in response to sound stimulation
• Has not begun to laugh by 5 months in response to play

4 Months

• Does not swipe at or reach for objects
• Does not bring hands or objects to his or her mouth
• Frequently irritable for no apparent reason
• Does not place both hands on her bottle while fed
• Does not place weight on forearms in prone position
• Does not rotate or extend head
• Is unable to grasp a rattle
• Cannot bring both hands together at midline

5 months

• Does not hold his or her own bottle
• Does not smile at his or her image in a mirror
• Does not roll over one way
• Does not hold head up when pulled to sitting
• Is unable to hold head steady in supported sitting position
• Does not bear weight on legs

6 Months

• Involuntarily drops objects after only a few moments
• Does not actively grasp large finger foods such as teething cookies from table top
• Is excessively and consistently upset by leaving the home
• Is unable to keep head level with body when pulled to a sitting position
• Does not demonstrate balance reactions
• Cannot bear weight on hands in prone position
• Does not move head actively in supported sitting position

7 months

• Does not roll over either way
• Does not bear weight on legs
• Cannot lift head or assist when pulled to sitting position
• Demonstrates little balance reactions or protective extension of arms
• Does not transfer an object from one hand to the other

8 Months:

• Does not roll over both ways
• Cannot sit with little or no support
• Does not hold weight on one hand while in the prone position
• Cannot bear weight on legs and bounce

10 months

• Not beginning to pick up small objects
• Does not poke with index finger
• Is not accepting a variety of food textures
• Is excessively upset by being dressed, diapered, bathed, or having hair groomed
• Cannot get to sitting position without assistance
• Does not assume creeping position (hand-knee position)
• Does not show interest/motivation to crawl
• Cannot sit on own without hand support

12 months

• Is unable to pick up a Cheerio or other small object with tip of the thumb and tip of index finger
• Is not sleeping through the night most of the time
• Is not interested in exploring toys made for one year-olds
• Is excessively upset by sound of siren, barking dog, vacuum cleaner, or other familiar loud noise
• Does not pull to stand using furniture
• Cannot switch positions from sitting to prone
• Does not creep on hands and knees
• Cannot pivot while in sit position to retrieve toy
• Cannot pass an object from one hand to the other
• Cannot stand holding on to someone or something
• Cannot pick up small object

15 months

• Cannot put a one-inch object into a container with a slightly bigger opening
• Cannot stack two cubes
• Cannot put a round form into a round shape on a puzzle
• Does not walk with one hand held
• Cannot stand alone well
• Does not demonstrate balance reaction while in the kneeling position
• Does not walk alone one to two steps
• Does not demonstrate motor planning by climbing on furniture
• Has a hard time picking up small objects

18 months

• Cannot point to 2-3 body parts for example: eyes, nose, mouth, hair, tummy, legs, feet, and hands
• Cannot turn pages of a cardboard or regular small book two or three pages at a time.
• Cannot stack four blocks
• Does not attempt to creep upstairs
• Does not walk without support
• Cannot throw ball
• Does not squat to retrieve objects
• Does not demonstrate balance reaction in standing

24 month

• Play with toys only by tapping, shaking, or throwing
• Cannot unscrew top of a one-inch or two-inch bottle
• Cannot remove socks, untied shoes, or pull-on pants without help
• Does not run
• Cannot walk upstairs with one hand held
• Cannot carry large toy while walking
• Does not squat in play
• Cannot retrieve toy off of floor from standing position
• Does not climb onto furniture, turn and sit
• Cannot build tower of 6 blocks
• Does not use utensils well

30 months

• Cannot imitate a circular scribble
• Cannot stack eight to ten cubes
• Cannot imitate drawing a vertical or horizontal line
• Does not jump in place with both feet
• Cannot catch large ball
• Walks awkwardly and has poor balance
• Does not walk downstairs using rail for support
• Does not have wide range of movement
• Does not avoid objects when running

36 months

• Cannot remove all pull-on clothing after fasteners have been undone
• Does not imitate the actions of adults in the home
• Does not pretend during play
• Cannot kick stationary ball
• Is not able to stand on one foot for 2 seconds
• Cannot build tower of 9 blocks
• Cannot complete 5-6 piece puzzle
• Is not using utensils properly
• Does not attempt to ride tricycle
• Does not demonstrate grasp of crayon