What to Expect with Fine Motor Skills for Toddlers

Nov 13, 2020

As your baby grows into toddler age, you probably notice that he or she is interacting with toys and the environment in news ways all of the time! During these toddler years, a child’s fine motor skills start to become more refined!

As your baby grows into toddler age, you probably notice that he or she is interacting with toys and the environment in news ways all of the time! During these toddler years, a child’s fine motor skills start to become more refined! Listed below are some of the fine motor skills your child will start to develop during the 1-3 years old!

  • 12 Months
  • Child is able to pick up and release small objects using the thumb and tip of index finger together
  • Bang two objects together
  • 15 Months
  • Points with index finger
  • 18 Months
  • Scribbles spontaneously on paper (without adult demonstrating) with whole arm involved in movement of drawing
  • 12-24 Months
  • Child will hold writing utensils with all fingers wrapped around crayon and thumb pointing towards ceiling


  • 24-29 Months
  • Can turn pages of a thick book one at a time

  • 24-36 Months
  • Child holds writing utensils with fingers wrapped around crayon and thumb towards paper
  • Child will then start to hold crayon with thumb, index finger, and middle finger holding crayon and pointed toward paper and 4th and 5th finger are wrapped around at top of writing utensil


  • 30-36 Months
  • Can stack 10 blocks in a tower
  • 36 Months
  • Begins to unbutton large buttons
  • Can zip jacket up and down, but needs help with joining sides of zipper together

It’s important to know these are just a few of many fine motor skills a child is developing during this time. Look for a future post about activities to develop these skills, enjoy!

Annie Wade, OTR/L

Information taken from: https://www.choc.org/userfiles/file/Rehab-Developmental%20Milestones%20final.pdf

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