Component 3: Fine Motor Development
Learning Goal 3.a: Children develop small muscle control, strength, and coordination.
By 9 months, most children:
- Hold onto a toy when it is handed to them
- Reach for, grasp, and shake things
- Bring hands and objects to their mouth
- Transfer a toy from one hand to another
- Pat, shake, or hit objects
- Mimic a hand clap or wave

By 18 months, most children:
- Turn the pages of books and point to pictures while being read to
- Hold objects in both hands
- Pick up very small objects with their index finger and thumb
- Bang two toys together
- Play pat-a-cake without much help (such as someone moving their hands for them)
- Begin to stack two to three blocks

By 24 months, most children:
- Open cabinets, drawers, and boxes
- String large beads
- Turn containers over to empty out the contents
- Remove lids from containers
- Stack four to six large blocks/cubes
- Attempt snipping with scissors

By 36 months, most children:
- String large beads onto shoe laces
- Turn knobs and unscrew lids, put lids on post, unwrap candy, etc.
- Put three or four pieces into a puzzle board
- Dig and scoop sand or water
- Use scissors

By 48 months, most children:
- String small beads onto shoe laces
- Continues to fit together manipulatives and connecting toys (e.g., Legos, bristle blocks)
- Use scissors with purpose

By 60 months, most children:
- Fold a piece of paper with accuracy and symmetry
- Work a puzzles of up to 10 pieces
- Use simple tools (e.g., stapler, hole punch, scissors, tape dispenser)
- Hold paper and begin to cut with scissors along a straight line
