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Fine Motor Development for Toddlers 2-3 Year Olds

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Fine Motor Development for Toddlers 2-3 Year Olds Janet McKnight

As your toddler progresses during this stage, Fine Motor Development becomes increasingly important. Not because this helps your toddler become more independent, it's because it is linked to problem solving and cognitive development & learning.

Fine Motor Development Milestones

  • holds a crayon with their thumb and fingers
  • able to draw a circle
  • builds a tower of blocks
  • turns 2-3 pages at a time
  • paints using a wrist action
  • paint dots and lines
  • threads large beads onto string
  • established hand preference
  • begins to cut paper with scissors
  • draw simple shapes such as a triangle and a circle
  • make simple objects from play dough
  • has better control over cutting when using scissors
  • begins to draw detailed pictures
  • unfastens buttons
  • begin to use simple keyboard functions (arrows, spacebar) and learns to control mouse while using a computer
  • makes vertical, horizontal, circular strokes with pencil or crayon
  • builds a tower of more than 6 blocks
  • uses a pencil to draw or scribble in circles and lines
  • gets dressed with help
  • self-feeds using utensils and a cup
  • screws and unscrews jar lids, nuts

During this period, improved fine motor skill enables toddlers to become more independent by picking up and manipulating objects without having to ask for help. Through increased independence toddlers are now prepared to do much more for themselves and self-reliant.

Created On January 5, 2015 Last modified on Monday, January 5, 2015
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