Deb’s Key Takeaways:

  • Increasing gross motor skills and strength in sitting/standing allows hands to be free for play.
  • Increasing eye-hand coordination allows play with smaller objects.
  • Development of two-handed play in preparation for activities of daily living.

Things that may affect fine motor development:

  • Delayed gross motor skills.
  • Poor vision.
  • Poor hand strength.
  • Delays in coordination development.
  • This allows:
    • Self-feeding small pieces of food.
    • Can explore an object in one hand.
    • Develops hand skill and strength.
    • Development of touch in sensitive tips of fingers.
    • Preparation of hand for tasks of daily living.
  • Holds objects in two hands –
    • Development of the skill to use both hands together.
    • Development of use of hands in the midline (front of body).
    • Strengthening of hands and arms for more independent skills.
  • Turns palm face upwards –
    • Development of turning hands up allows more control for self-feeding.
    • Allows exploring toys in hands.
    • Prepares the baby’s hands for more complex fine motor skills.
  • Two-handed play and independent use allows babies to:
    • Bang objects together.
    • Clap hands.
    • Prepare hands for activities of daily living, e.g. dressing/eating.
    • Explore objects with two hands, e.g. undoing lids, etc.
    • Promotes learning and problem-solving.
    • Voluntary release.
    • Give objects to parent/carer.
    • Promotes eye-hand coordination.
    • Develop block and container play.
    • Turn pages of a book while holding.

6-9 months

  • Give them small pieces of food to develop pincer grasp.
  • Give them toys to bang/drum/hammer, etc.
  • Give them a bottle to hold.
  • Help them move an object from hand to hand.
  • Long handled toys are easier to move from one hand to the other.
  • Give them toys with ribbons, etc to pull.
  • Give them toys that you have to pull pieces out of.
  • Give them a toy in each hand – blocks, small rattles, etc.

9-12 months

  • Help your baby point at body parts.
  • Cause and effect toys that you can operate by using a finger.
  • Help them turn light switch on/off.
  • Blow bubbles for them to pop.
  • Give a crayon.
  • Point at objects in books with them.
  • Help them turn pages of a book.
  • Give them containers and toys to put in/take out.
  • Blocks to stack.
  • Spoon for self-feeding.
  • Give them toys to screw/unscrew.
  • Offer single puzzle pieces/posting toy.

When to ask for help:

  • If your baby is not pointing to show you objects by 10-12 months.
  • If they can’t pick up objects with thumb and index finger by 9-10 months.
  • If they can’t hold objects in 2 hands by 8 months.
  • If they are not releasing toys without being forced by 9 months, not giving you a toy by 12 months.
  • If they don’t play with cause and effect toys.
  • If they don’t wave or clap hands by 10-12 months.