Birth-6 months
Gross motor skills
- 1 month: head bobs when held upright, kicks feet when on back
- 2 months: lifts head briefly when placed on tummy
- 3 months: lifts head 2 to 3 inches off surface and pushes up with forearms when placed on tummy
- 4 months: straightens legs when feet touch a flat surface; when on tummy, lifts head and chest off surface while looking forward
- 5 months: rolls from tummy to back (always supervise to avoid falls); pulls self forward to sitting position when you hold baby’s hands
- 6 months: sits briefly without support; rolls from back to tummy
Fine motor skills
- 1 month: hands are in fists most of the time
- 2 months: holds a rattle when placed in their hand
- 3 months: reaches toward dangling objects and people’s faces
- 4 months: holds and shakes rattle, plays with and watches their own fingers
- 5 months: reaches for a toy with two hands; uses whole hand to grasp a toy
- 6 months: passes a toy from one hand to another: bangs toy on table
Self-help skills
- 1 month: coordinated suck from breast or bottle nipple
- 2 months: opens mouth when seeing breast or bottle nipple
- 3 months: anticipates feedings, shows interest or excitement when seeing breast or bottle nipple
- 4 months: brings toy to mouth
- 5 months: places both hands on breast or bottle when nursing
- 6 months: holds own bottle or cup during feedings
6-12 months
Gross motor skills
- reaches for feet
- sits alone
- stands with support
- creeps and crawls on hands and knees
- moves from tummy to sitting position
- pulls on furniture to stand up
- walks sideways while holding onto furniture
- briefly stands without support
- lowers self to floor with control
- takes steps with hands held
Fine motor skills
- uses hand and fingers to pick up small objects
- bangs two objects together
- transfers objects from one hand to the other
- pokes and points at things, using index finger
- handles toys in new ways: pulling, turning, poking, tearing
- drops objects into containers
Self-help skills
- feeds self finger foods using thumb and finger tips
- begins to hold a spoon and attempts to feed self
- drinks from a cup with a lid or small sips from open cup
12-18 months
Gross motor skills
- walk independently
- throw a ball forward
- walk sideways and backwards
- crawl up stairs
- walk up and down stairs with help
- play with pull and push toys, such as a toddler grocery cart
- seat self in a child-sized chair, starts to crawl into car seat
Fine motor skills
- build a two-block tower
- turn pages, 2 to 3 at a time
- drop small objects, such as a raisin, into a bottle
- explores holes of pegboard
- scribble, spontaneously
- places larger coin shape objects into slot openings
Self-help skills
- begin to use spoon and fork
- drink from cup independently
- take off socks and shoes (when laces are undone)
- put arms through sleeve and legs through pants legs
- try to wash face and hands
- help put toys away
18-24 months
Gross motor skills
- squat during play
- throw ball forward
- try to catch a ball with arms and body
- jumps with galloping motion
- use legs to propel non-motorized, ride-on toys
- walk up and down stairs when one hand being held by an adult
Fine motor skills
- turn pages in a book one at a time
- place pegs in a pegboard
- string larger-sized beads
- build towers of four or more blocks
- scribble, try to draw lines up, down, and across a page, as well as circles
Self-help skills
- feed self with a spoon and fork
- suck through a straw
- eat a combination of textures and chopped table foods
- push arm through armholes in T-shirt to help with dressing
- undress completely except for fasteners
- understand and stay away from common dangers: sharp or hot objects
24-36 months
Gross motor skills
- jump in place with both feet
- climb up and go down a toddler slide
- catch large ball thrown from 2 feet away
- pedal tricycle
- walk up and down stairs when one hand being held by an adult
- stand briefly on one foot when one hand being held by an adult
- walk backwards
Fine motor skills
- stack 1-inch blocks, six high
- hold crayon with thumb and fingers
- string large beads on a stiff string
- snip and cut with a scissors
- imitate vertical and horizontal lines, and circle
- copy vertical and horizontal lines and circle
3-5 years
Gross motor skills
- pedal a tricycle
- catch an 8-inch ball thrown from 5 feet
- alternate feet going up and down stairs
- jump forward 8 to 12 inches
- balance on each foot for 3 seconds
- walk across a 4-inch balance beam
- kick a ball rolling toward him or her
Fine motor skills
- draw a face
- cut along straight and curved lines
- copy and trace basic shapes
- stack ten cubes
- string 1-inch beads onto a string
- hold a large crayon with thumb and 2 fingers
- use preferred
Self-help skills
- skills that help children become more independent
- feed self using utensils without spilling
- put on and take off shoes without ties
- dress and undress with some help
- manipulate large buttons and snaps
- wash hands with help
- pour liquid from a small container
- unscrew the cap of a toothpaste tube
- use hair brush, toothbrush, and tissues with some help
- climb in and out of the car, bathtub, and bed on own