Overview

As your child grows and develops, they begin to use hand movements to hold, manipulate, and move objects. These hand movements are called fine motor skills. They’re guided by the eyes and the muscles, joints, bones, and sensations in your child's hands. Pediatric rehabilitation can help if your child is having challenges in these areas of development.

Your child’s ability to see and follow objects with their eyes is very important for the development of fine motor skills. It’s recommended that your baby has their first vision check by an optometrist between the ages of 6 to 9 months. If you have concerns about your baby’s vision before they’re 6 months of age, please talk to your child’s healthcare provider.

Areas under fine motor

For the first 5 to 6 years of your child’s life, playing with toys and objects and doing everyday activities develop the foundation for fine motor skills.

• Grasp patterns: Your child holds an object in their palm, sometimes with all their fingers, sometimes with 2 or 3 fingers. For example, when they hold a rattle or a crayon.
• Reach: Your child moves their arm toward an object. For example, they reach for a cup or a book on the shelf.
• Release: Your child drops or places an object somewhere. For example, they put toys in a box or build a tower with blocks.
• Bilateral coordination: Your child uses both arms, together or separately. When activities need both hands, 1 hand holds the object, while the other directs the actions. For example, they hold a bowl and stir the contents with a spoon. Or they hold a lace and string beads with the other hand.
• Crossing mid-line: Your child moves one arm across their body to the other side. For example, their right hand reaches to their left side. To put on socks, your child will need to cross mid-line.
• Hand dominance: Your child consistently favours one hand over the other for skilled activities like eating with a spoon, using scissors, or throwing a ball.
• Eye-hand coordination: Your child uses visual information to guide their hand movements. For example, when they place items into a container or cut on a line with scissors.
• Dexterity: Your child coordinates their fingers to move and guide objects. For example, when they remove stickers or tie shoelaces.
• Tool use: Your child guides a tool held in their hand with control. For example, when they hold and use a toothbrush or draw with a pencil.

Your child uses fine motor skills for:

• daily living skills, such as getting dressed, eating, brushing their teeth, and using the toilet
• play, such as using toys, building, and doing messy play with sand, mud or Play-Doh
• crafts, drawing, and printing

Fine motor development

What to expect as your child’s fine motor skills develop.

• Birth to 2 months
• 2 to 6 months
• 6 to 12 months

Motor coordination

Motor coordination involves coordinating complex movements. This is a skill that improves with time and practice. Children need motor coordination skills to move their body, use their hands, and to talk or eat.

Motor coordination in children