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: Reach/Grasp/Release

Age: 12-15 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 12-15 Months.

Observe the child putting small food items into a narrow-necked container.

Give the child small food to feed an open-mouthed plastic animal, or drop food into a small-mouthed container to “feed” it.

The child grasps objects between tip of thumb and tip of index finger.

Introduce activities that require two hands, such as drawing, using a bowl and spoon to stir, holding a toy with one hand, activating it with another, etc. Explain to early childhood educators and parents how as the child matures, an increasing number of activities will require different movements on alternate sides of the body. Provide activities that encourage using hands in different ways, such as holding a box and removing the top.