Fine motor skills are movements that use the small muscles of the hands and fingers, such as grasping a toy, passing it between hands and picking up small pieces with the thumb and finger. They develop step by step through the first years.
Key takeaways
- Newborns grasp by reflex; deliberate reaching starts around 3-4 months.
- The pincer grasp usually develops between 9 and 12 months.
- Scribbling and stacking blocks follow in the second year.
What you can do
- Offer toys of different shapes and sizes to grasp and pass.
- Let your baby feed themselves with finger foods.
- Try stacking cups, blocks and chunky crayons as your child grows.
When to talk to your doctor
Talk to your doctor if your baby does not bring hands together or to the mouth by about 4 months, or strongly favours one hand before 18 months.
