Developmental Milestones for Kids

Fine motor skills:

• Begins to develop a pincer grasp (uses index finger and thumb to pick up cheerios)
• Grasps smaller items using three fingers
• Drops object into/ take object out of cup or container
• Points using their index finger
• Bangs two items together (such as blocks or other preferred toys)
• Begins to grasp crayon using a fist
• May be interested in imitating scribbling on a paper

Self-care skills:

• Take off socks and shoes
• Assist with dressing to push arm or leg into clothing
• Holds a cup on their own
• Starts to bring spoon to their mouth to self-feed

Gross motor skills:

• Transition into a sitting position on their own
• Crawling
• Pull up to stand at furniture
• Child may take steps holding onto an adults hands or take steps while holding onto furniture
• Hold, roll or throw ball (with assistance)
• Walking on their own
• Carries large toy while walking
• Walks up and down stairs holding onto support

Fine motor skills:

• Uses a more refined pincer grasp to pick up small objects
• Grasps a crayon between their thumb and fingers
• Pre-writing strokes begin as child attempts to imitate a straight line and scribbles
• Strings large sized beads
• Begins to snip paper using scissors
• Completes simple 3-5 piece puzzles

Self-care skills:

• Brings spoon and fork to mouth with little spilling
• Drinks from an open cup
• Drinks using a straw
• Assists more with dressing skills, such as finding and placing arms into shirt
• Helps pulls pants off
• Removes socks and shoes

Gross motor skills:

• Walks independently
• Carries toy while walking
• Climbs onto and down from furniture, play structure
• Throw and catch a large ball
• Runs without falling
• Swings legs to Kick a ball forward
• Jumps off the floor with both feet
• Walks down stairs with support
• Walks up stairs alternating feet with support
• May show interest and begin to pedal a tricycle

Fine motor skills:

• Starts showing a hand preference
• Child grasps writing tools between thumb and fingers
• Pre-writing skills; child copies vertical and horizontal line
• Child colours simple shapes
• Cuts along a straight line
• Builds a tower of 4-5 blocks
• Child is able to identify 10 body parts

Self-care skills:

• Child is able to feed themselves with little spillage
• Drinks from an open cup
• Puts on and takes off shoes independently
• Dress himself/herself (with some assistance)
• Uses the toilet (with assistance when needed)
• Pulls up a zipper on a coat or sweater

Gross motor skills:

• Throwing and catching a large ball
• Kicking a large ball forward
• Walk up steps, alternating feet with support
• Jumps with both feet
• Begins to move arms and legs to pump a swing or ride a tricycle
• Stands on one foot for a couple of seconds.

Fine motor skills:

• Child shows a hand preference
• Child grasps writing tools with index, middle and long fingers
• Pre-writing skills include copying a vertical line, horizontal line, a cross and a circle
• Child attempts to colour within the lines
• Draws a person with a head, body, arms and legs
• Cuts straight lines and attempts more complex shapes (i.e. square, triangle, diamond)
• Builds a tower of 7-9 blocks
• Puts together simple puzzles of 4-12 pieces 

Self-care skills:

• Child is able to feed themselves with little mess
• Independently uses utensils (i.e. fork, spoon)
• Dresses self (may require some assistance with fasteners and snaps).
• Zips a jacket (may need help with initial alignment of zipper)
• Manipulates large buttons
• Brushes teeth with assistance
• Uses the toilet independently (may need help with wiping)

Gross motor skills:

• Stands on one foot for 2-3 seconds
• Jumps on two feet in place
• Throws and catches medium sized ball
• Catches a bouncing ball
• Kicks ball further with direction
• Walks up and down stairs alternating feet (with assistance if needed)
• Tries to skip
• Child develops more confidence to move arms and legs to pump a swing or ride a bicycle

Fine motor skills:

• Child shows a hand preference
• Child grasps writing tools using their index, middle and long fingers
• Pre-writing skills includes copying a vertical & horizontal line, circle, cross, square and a triangle
• Cutting skills are becoming more proficient as child is able to cut out more complex shapes
• Prints name and familiar letters from memory
• Copies all letters of the alphabet
• Draws a person with 2-4 body parts 

Self-care skills:

• Child dresses independently
• Child begins to Tie a knot in preparation for learning to tie shoe laces
• Brushes teeth and hair independently
• Fastens Velcro shoes, buttons and zippers

Gross motor skills:

• Stands on one foot for 5 seconds
• walks up and down stairs, alternating feet, without support
• throws and catches a small ball
• Throws a ball overhand with direction
• May be able to skip
• Riding a bike with training wheels

Fine motor skills:

• Child will use a dynamic tripod grasp (or another mature pencil grasp)
• Child prints name, all capital and lower case letters, and numbers
• Draws more complex shapes and designs (triangle, diagonal lines)
• Draws recognizable and meaningful pictures
• Draws a person with at least six body parts
• Cuts out more complex shapes
• Builds three dimensional block structures

Self-care skills:

• Dressing skills are unsupervised
• Tying shoe laces
• Child may use a knife during mealtime to cut food

Gross motor skills:

• stands on one foot for 10 seconds
• throws and catches       a small ball with increased control and accuracy
• runs quickly with smooth coordinated movements
• hops on one foot consecutively
• rides a bicycle with more confidence and control