Typical Development

When looking at motor development, it is important to consider both gross and fine motor skills.

Kids, 1–6 Years Old

Developmental milestones are average ages when children usually begin to do certain things and there is a typical range of development across children. For example, some children walk at nine months while others walk at 15 months; both are still within the typical range. Most motor milestones are achieved by six years of age, after that, motor development is more about fine-tuning.

Gross motor skills:

Sit without support

Crawl

Pull to a standing position

Take steps while holding furniture

Stand alone

Walk alone or with one hand held

Fine motor skills:

Drink from a cup with help

Feed themselves finger foods

Grasp small objects

Poke/point with first finger

Knock two blocks together

Cooperate with dressing by offering a foot or an arm

Put small blocks in and pull them out of a container

Gross motor skills:

Toss/roll a large ball

Bend over without falling

Squat

Walk up and down stairs while holding the handrail

Walk backwards

Run with a wide base

Climb

Fine motor skills:

Drink from a straw

Feed self with a spoon

Help with hand washing

Put their arms in sleeves with help

Build a block tower with 2–3 blocks

Scribble with a crayon

Operate a mechanical toy

Open cabinets, drawers and boxes

Turn pages of a book

Gross motor skills:

Throw a ball overhead

Try to catch a large ball against their chest

Kick a ball forward

Walk up stairs, with alternating feet

Walk in a straight line

Walk on tip toes if shown

Open doors

Pedal a tricycle

Jump from a small step

Fine motor skills:

Feed themselves with spilling

Wash and dry their own hands

Hold a glass in one hand

Put on shoes

Dress themselves with help

Use the toilet with help

Hold a crayon

Fold paper, if shown how

Build a block tower with 4–5 blocks

Snip with scissors

Gross motor skills:

Jump in place with both feet

Catch a bouncing ball

Kick a ball with direction

Walk downstairs alternating feet, while holding the handrail

Swing

Run around obstacles

Fine motor skills:

Feed themselves with little spilling

Eat with a fork

Try to buckle, button and lace, but need help

Undress by themselves if wearing clothes with simple fasteners

Brush teeth with help

Use the toilet alone

Hold a pencil

Draw using arm movements and not small hand movements

Draw vertical and horizontal lines, a cross and a circle

Cut across paper with scissors

Put together simple puzzles (4–12 pieces)

Build a block tower with 7–9 blocks

Gross motor skills:

Hop

Stand on one foot for 5 seconds

Walk up and down stairs without support

Throw a ball overhead with direction

Catch smaller balls

Move forward and backward with agility

Walk on tip toes

Fine motor skills:

Brush their teeth and hair

Fasten Velcro shoes, buttons and zippers

Copy squares and some capital letters

Draw a person with 2–4 body parts

Colour with more accuracy

Cut along the lines

Gross motor skills:

Stand on one foot for 10 seconds

Throw, bounce and catch a tennis ball

Perform a running kick

Run in an adult manner with quick direction changes

Skip with good balance

Fine motor skills:

Dress unsupervised

Tie a knot

Begin to tie laces, if given the chance to learn

Use a knife to cut and spread

Establish hand preference

Colour within lines

Print numbers, letters and their name

Draw triangles and diagonal lines

Draw recognizable pictures

Draw a person with 6 body parts

Cut out simple shapes

Use a mature pencil grasp