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Fine motor skills for children 6-12 months

22 June, 2020
Last week we discussed fine motor development in the first 6 months and the importance of vision and gross motor skills for this successful development. From 6-12 months, this continues to be the case, but as well fine motor development (especially pointing) is important for early communication.
Overhead view of a baby sitting on a white mat, surrounded by toys like stuffed animals, books, and play food.

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.
  • Delayed gross motor skills.
  • Poor vision.
  • Poor hand strength.
  • Delays in coordination development.
A toddler in a striped shirt sitting in a red chair holds a purple toy camera up to their face.
If your child is delayed in learning pointing, bimanual skills (two-handed), pincer grasp, and play.

Development of fine motor skills 6-12 months

Fine motor development is important because during this time your baby learns to pick up small objects, use both hands together, and turn their palm face up.

They develop early pincer grasp –

  • The use of the index finger and pointer finger together while tucking the other fingers away.

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.
Baby wearing a patterned headband sits in a high chair with fingers in their mouth.

In these few months, babies control of their hands become more and more skilled and their play and communication using their hands becomes a large part of their daily play.

They develop:

  • Pointing with index finger.
  • Self-feeding.
  • Asking for something. (e.g. more cookies, toys out of reach).
  • Drawing their parent/carer’s attention to something interesting.
  • Hand 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.
Toddler in pink polka dot pajamas looks up intently while playing with wooden blocks.

Ways to develop fine motor development:

  • 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.
Toddler sitting on a black and white rug, playing a colorful toy xylophone with a wooden mallet.
  • 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.
Blonde toddler placing a soft yellow block on top of a tall, leaning tower of colorful play blocks.

Things that may affect fine motor milestone development

  • Low muscle tone – i.e. floppy muscles.
  • Delay in tummy skills/sitting.
  • Intolerance to new sensory experiences.
  • No interest in self-feeding.
  • Poor development of finger and hand strength.
  • Delayed visual motor development.
  • Delayed planning of movement/coordination.
Toddler with curly hair sitting on a white blanket, looking down at an open illustrated book.

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.
A baby girl in a white ruffled dress sits on a grey rug and waves, with a white couch in the background.

The development of fine motor skills helps your child with strengthening shoulder, arm, and hand muscles. The increasing skilled use of their hands and toys prepares your baby for completing everyday activities such as eating, dressing, and writing. The increased use of eye-hand coordination allows them to begin to use a crayon, turn the pages of a book, and self-feed by finger and spoon.

If your baby is having difficulty with developing any of these skills or is not interested in play or communicating by pointing or gestures (e.g. waving), speak to your GP, paediatrician, or a paediatric physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

Keep safe, happy, and well.

Deb

Smiling woman with light brown hair and a black top, in front of a colorful rainbow-striped background.
By Deb Evans

Executive Director

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