Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Health and Physical Development (HPD)

Subdomain: Motor Development

Goal: Children develop small muscle control and hand-eye coordination to manipulate objects and work with tools.

Skill Progression: Manipulation/Tool use

Age: 42-48 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 42-48 Months.

Have writing tools and paper available.

Hand a pencil or marker to the child, with the writing end pointing upward. This requires the child to turn the pencil over.

The child is capable of in-hand manipulation, or rotating a tool with one hand so it is facing the correct direction.

Early childhood educators and parents need to provide opportunities for children to use in-hand manipulation rather than using two hands to change the position of an object. For example, practice paying for items with coins from one hand; present tools upside down; or give a handful of a small snack and say, “See if you can use just one hand.”