Fine motor skills are actions and abilities involving the small muscles in the hands and fingers.
Examples of fine motor activities include picking up objects, drawing/writing, dressing, and using hands to eat and play. These skills also involve hand-eye coordination.

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Healthy Child Development

There are several stages of healthy fine motor skills development that are marked by key abilities.  

 

By 4 months

• Sucks well on a nipple (if breastfeeding)

• Brings hands or toy to mouth

• Turns head side to side to follow a toy or an adult face

• Brings hands to midline while lying on back

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By 6 months​

• Reaches for a toy when lying on back

• Uses hands to reach, grasp, bang and splash

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By 9 months

• Picks up small items using thumb and first finger

• Passes an object from one hand to the other

• Releases objects voluntarily

• Bangs objects on table or floor

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By 12 months

• Holds, bites and chews foods (e.g., crackers)

• Takes things out of a container

• Points with index finger

• Plays games like peek-a-boo

• Holds a cup to drink using two hands

• Picks up and eats finger foods

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By 18 months

• Helps with dressing by putting out arms and legs

• Stacks three or more blocks

• Picks up and eats finger foods

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By 2 years

• Puts items into a small container

• Takes off own shoes, socks or hat

• Eats with a spoon with little spilling

• Scribbles with crayons or marks paper

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By 3 years

• Turns the pages of a book

• Dresses or undresses with help

• Turns lid off a jar or turns knobs

• Holds a writing utensil between thumbs and fingers

• Copies a circle already drawn

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By 4 years

• Holds a writing utensil correctly

• Undoes buttons or zippers

• Cuts with scissors

• Dresses and undresses with minimal help

 

By 5 years​

• Uses scissors to cut along a thick line drawn on paper

• Dresses and undresses with little help

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... If a child is missing one or more of these expected age outcomes, consider this a red flag