If you are a parent, you may be concerned about whether your child is growing as she should. You may wonder if her height or weight is appropriate, whether her vocabulary is adequate or when she will crawl. Another aspect of your child's development is fine-motor skills, in which your child gains better control of her hands. Although each child is different, there are general time frames for fine-motor skill development.
Grasping
Fine-motor skills are not present in the first six months. A developmental checklist created by Dr. Cindy Munson advises that at birth, your child will have a grasp reflex. At about 4 months old, your child will be able to hold and shake a rattle you give him, and at 5 months he will grab objects on his own.
By the age of 6 months, Dr. Munson reports that your child should use his hand to put things into his mouth, including food, and move items back and forth between his hands.
Tufts University reports that your child should exhibit a "pincer" grasp, or pick up items with his thumb and forefinger, at about 10 months. At this age, he will also let go of items. By about 12 months, your child should have a well-developed pincer grasp.
At 15 months old, your child may pick up and drink from a cup without spilling much of the liquid inside. He may also turn pages of books at about the same time, beginning with two to three pages at a time. At 18 to 24 months, he will leaf through a book one page at a time.
Manipulating Toys
Tufts University reports that at about 13 months of age your child will build block towers, usually about two blocks high. When your child is 24 months old, her block tower skills will expand to include buildings with five to 10 blocks.
At about 30 months old, your child may string beads, beginning with two beads and working up to three or four by her third birthday, advises the Mequon-Thiensville School District of Wisconsin.
Between 4 and 5 years old, your child's block towers will become more complex, extending horizontally as well as vertically.
Personal Care
As early as 2 years old, your child may put on and take off his own socks. The University of New Hampshire Extension Department says that by 3 years old, your child should begin dressing and undressing himself, including fastening buttons. At age 3, he may also feed himself and wash his hands.
From age 4 to 5, his ability to dress himself improves, reports the University of New Hampshire Extension Department. He may learn to tie his shoes.
Artwork
At around 3 years old, your child may begin to use scissors to help create artwork. The Mequon-Thiensville School District says that by the age of 42 months, your child may also copy drawings of circles and lines, holding the pencil like an adult.
By the time she is 4 or 5 years old, her drawing skills improve to include squares, triangles and people. She also begins printing letters at this time, and will use scissors more effectively.
Other Fine-Motor Skills
When your child is about 3, he will likely begin working puzzles, reports the University of New Hampshire Extension Department. It may take him a few tries to work a puzzle at this age, but he will usually succeed.
Once he is 4 to 5 years old, he can complete larger puzzles and effectively use tools such as screwdrivers.
