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Below is a list of typical developmental milestones in relation to fine motor skills, coordination, self-care skills, and completion of everyday activities. Many children reach some milestones earlier or later, and that is OKAY! However, if you are concerned with your child's ability to complete age-appropriate daily activities, occupational therapy can help!
12-14 months
Independently finger feeds
Dips spoon in food and brings to mouth, but spills food before it goes into mouth
Indicates discomfort when diaper is wet or soiled
15-18 months
Scoops food with spoon and brings it to mouth
Cooperates with dressing (holds out arms & feet)
Removes socks and loose shoes
1 year- 2 years
Sits on toilet for short time when placed there, supervised
Washes a few body parts with assistance
Holds crayon in clenched fist
Scribbles within boundaries of piece of paper
2- 2 ½ years
Improving ability to scoop with spoon and transfer to mouth, some spillage
Removes unfastened coat
Removes untied shoes
Helps pull down pants
Finds arm holes in pull-over shirt
Picks up and puts toys away with parental reminders
2 ½- 3 years
Proficiently feeds self with spoon
Begins attempting to stab food with fork
Removes pants with elastic waist
Puts on coat or front-opening shirt
Achieves regulated toileting with occasional daytime accidents, with reminders to go to the bathroom and assistance getting on toilet
Attempts to brush teeth (needs assistance)
Washes hands with prompting
Carries things without dropping them
Assists with simple housework tasks (dust or wipe table, pulling weeds, putting items away)
Snips with scissors
Imitates horizontal, vertical, and circular lines
3 – 3 ½ years
Feeds self with fork
Buttons and unbuttons large buttons on coat
Puts on pull-over shirt with minimal assistance
Puts on shoes without fasteners (may be wrong foot)
Puts on socks (may be upside-down)
Zips/unzips jacket once on track
Copies a vertical and horizontal line
3 ½ - 4 years
Finds front of clothing
Snaps or hooks front fasteners
Unzips front zipper on jacket, separating zipper
Buttons series of 3-4 medium-sized buttons
Dresses with supervision (may need help with front/back)
Fixes dry cereal and snacks
Helps with sorting laundry
Cuts along straight line with scissors
Copies circle, may start to try to draw letters
4 – 4 ½ years
Independently and correctly puts on socks, shoes (not including tying laces)
Independently connects zipper to track and pulls it up
Consistently identifies front/back of clothing
Cuts out simple geometric shapes (square, triangle, circle)
Copies a cross, copies some upper-case letters
4 ½ - 5 years
Attempts to spread and cut with butter knife
Puts belt in loops
Ties and unties simple knot
Independent in toileting (tearing toilet paper, flushing, washing hands, managing clothing)
Puts toys away neatly, puts dirty clothes in hamper
Traces a line, copies a square and diagonal lines
5-6 years
Dresses unsupervised
Manages most back buttons/zippers/snaps
Ties shoelaces in bows
Spreads butter/jelly/etc. on toast with butter knife (may be messy)
Cuts with butter knife
Thoroughly brushes teeth independently
Washes body parts independently, may need help washing and rinsing long/thick/curly hair
Blows nose
Helps with brushing hair (may be independent if child has short hair)
Washes dishes with help
Does simple household chores effectively
Makes a simple sandwich
Holds pencil/marker correctly
Copies an X, triangle, upper-case letters of their name
7-9 years
Cuts meat with steak knife
Cuts out complex shapes with scissors
Showers independently and thoroughly
Brushes hair independently (if shorth hair), may need occasional assistance (for children with long/coarse/curly hair)
Begins to cook simple meals with assistance
Puts clean clothes away, hangs up clothes
10-12 years
Cooks simple meals with supervision
Begins doing laundry
Sets table, washes dishes
Cares for pet with reminders
Manages small amounts of money with assistance
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