List of Skills by Age
1-2 Months
Reach: Reaches with fist closed
Grasp (of small object): Demonstrates grasp reflex when finger placed in infant’s palm
Stares at objects and own hands
2-4 Months
Reach: Begins visually directed reaching; keeps object and hand in view when reaching
Grasp: If object is contacted, pulls it in and squeezes it against the body or other hand
Release: Involuntary release after holding
4-6 Months
Release: Two-stage transfer - one hand holds object, second hand joins hold, first hand releases
6-8 Months
Grasp (of tiny object): Initially, rakes object into palm with fingers, thumb bent
Release: Releases object with assist against
8-10 Months
Grasp (of tiny object): Lateral pincer - Picks up object between thumb and side of index finger
Grasp: Radial-digital grasp-object moves to between thumb and fingertips
Grasp: Three-jaw chuck grasp- object held with thumb and two fingers
10-12 Months
Grasp: Radial-digital grasp with wrist extended
Grasp: Inferior pincer grasp- between the thumb and pad of index finger; beginning thumb opposition
Release: Controls release of object into container
Release (of tiny object): Unsuccessful release into small container
12-15 Months
Reach: Beginning of two-handed reach, with one hand stabilizing
Grasp: Refined pincer grasp between tip of thumb to tip of index finger
Release (of tiny object): Precise release into small container with wrist extended
15-18 Months
Reach: Reaches with lead and and assist hands
Reach: Alternates reach with first one hand, then the other
Grasp: Holds crayon using fisted grasp
18-21 Months
Release: Releases objects according to size and shape of container
21-24 Months
Grasp: Precise tasks use fingertip grasp
Grasp: Power tasks use palmer grasp
24-27 Months
Skills combined into Manipulation/Tool use
27-30 Months
Skills combined into Manipulation/Tool use
30-33 Months
Skills combined into Manipulation/Tool use
33-36 Months
Grasp: Uses effective power grasp on tools, such as a screwdriver
Release: Releases a ball with all fingers opening and thrusting
36-42 Months
Skills combined into Manipulation/Tool use
42-48 Months
Grasp: Uses static tripod grasp on pencil
48-54 Months
54-60 Months
 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2015
©2015 by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.