Red Flags Bermuda
EARLY INTERVENTION
BIRTH TO AGE SIX
Growth & Development
Fine Motor Skills
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.
Healthy Child Development
There are several stages of healthy fine motor skills development that are marked by key abilities.
By 4 months
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Sucks well on a nipple (if breastfeeding)
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Brings hands or toy to mouth
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Turns head side to side to follow a toy or an adult face
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Brings hands to midline while lying on back
By 6 months
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Reaches for a toy when lying on back
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Uses hands to reach, grasp, bang and splash
By 9 months
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Picks up small items using thumb and first finger
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Passes an object from one hand to the other
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Releases objects voluntarily
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Bangs objects on table or floor
By 12 months
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Holds, bites and chews foods (e.g., crackers)
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Takes things out of a container
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Points with index finger
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Plays games like peek-a-boo
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Holds a cup to drink using two hands
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Picks up and eats finger foods
By 18 months
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Helps with dressing by putting out arms and legs
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Stacks three or more blocks
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Picks up and eats finger foods
By 2 years
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Puts items into a small container
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Takes off own shoes, socks or hat
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Eats with a spoon with little spilling
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Scribbles with crayons or marks paper
By 3 years
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Turns the pages of a book
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Dresses or undresses with help
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Turns lid off a jar or turns knobs
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Holds a writing utensil between thumbs and fingers
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Copies a circle already drawn
By 4 years
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Holds a writing utensil correctly
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Undoes buttons or zippers
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Cuts with scissors
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Dresses and undresses with minimal help
By 5 years
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Uses scissors to cut along a thick line drawn on paper
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Dresses and undresses with little help
... If a child is missing one or more of these expected age outcomes, consider this a red flag
Problem
Signs
if a child is experiencing any of the following, consider this a red flag:
Infants
► Inability to hold or grasp an adult finger or a toy/object for a short period of time
All children
► Hands are fisted most of the time
► Inability to play appropriately with a variety
of age-appropriate toys; avoids crafts and
manipulatives
► Consistently ignores or has difficulty using one side of body; uses one hand/arm