PROGRESSIVE MOTOR SKILLS
FROM AGE ZERO TO SIX
PICKING UPGRASPING
SWIPING
CLUTCHING AND GRABBING
REACHING
USING THE HANDS TOGETHER
DROPPING AND LETTING GO
POINTING
LIFTING AND TURNING
DROPPING AND PLACING
THROWING
USING A SPOON
RATTLING
CATCHING
BUILDING WITH BLOCKS
MAKING PUZZLES
BOWLING
TURNING PAGES
MAKING MODELS
FOLDING PAPER
RIPPING AND SNIPPING
BANGING NAILS
SIMPLE TWISTING TOYS
SIMPLE SEWING
DRESSING UP
What are motor skills?
Clapping your hands is a motor skill. You use your
muscles, your bones and your brain to put your hands
together. Your MUSCLES, BONES and BRAIN
working together are motor skills. Painting a picture,
throwing a ball, or playing ‘itsy bitsy spider” with you
child are all motor skills. Small movements are fine
motor skills and large movements are gross motor skills.
Show your baby a string of teddy bears. She will swipe at them all and then try to clutch at one and finally grab one.
The development of the Wrist Bones gives your baby finer control over the movement of the hands. Develop hand training activities for your baby with bells and rattles, reaching out games, and banging on pots and pans.
Activity Centers provide a scope for prodding, pushing and dialing once a small child can use her fingers independently. With most art projects your baby can learn about materials, practice fine motor skills, and be creative. Crayons and paper are easy and fun.
When she sits on your lap with a book, place her hands in the position to turn the pages or lift the flaps.
PARENT ACTIVITY Make play dough for your child. In a bowl knead together 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, and enough water (about 1/2 cup) to create a simple, no-cook play dough. Let baby pinch, poke, pat and punch the ball of dough. Show her how to poke holes in the dough with her fingers. Try making other impressions with a spoon or a cup. Store dough in the refrigerator.
