Fine Motor Skills for Infants and Toddlers

Helping your infant or toddler develop “fine motor skills” means you are showing children how to control small muscles in their hands, according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Helping very young children practice fine motor skills at home will equip them with skills that will later help them learn how to write with a pencil, use a computer mouse or play a musical instrument. 

Help your child hold a small object with two hands by age 3 months, and in one hand by age 5 months. From 6 months to 12 months, a child likely will be able to point with an index finger and pick up small objects with one thumb and a single finger. By age 2, a child might be able to build a tower with three blocks and turn the pages of a book (even if it’s two or three pages at a time.) Children learn at their own pace, so general learning goals are just guidelines.