Skill· 2.2y–3.5y· 4 min
Draw and Build
Parent sets up fine-motor challenges covering early mark-making, drawing shapes, pencil grip, stacking small objects, tool use, and wrist rotation: drawing lines and circles, copying shapes, stacking blocks, unscrewing lids, using utensils, threading, turning handles, and pencil grip. Covers twelve fine-motor and manipulation milestones at 28-40mo.
Free to do together whenever you like.
What you'll need
Paper on table, crayon ready. 5-6 stackable blocks or cups. A jar or bottle with a twist-top. A spoon and bowl. A doorknob or similar rotation surface if available.
How it works
The 3-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneTwists mechanismsBody· 2y–3.5y· core
- MilestoneUses finger-thumb pencil graspBody· 2.8y–4y· core
- MilestoneStrings large beadsBody· 2.3y–3y· stretch· Step 13
- MilestoneProduces controlled varied strokesBody· 2y–3y· core· Steps 2, 3
- MilestoneCopies a circleBody· 2.2y–4.2y· core
- MilestoneCopies a crossBody· 3y–4y· core· Step 5
- MilestoneBuilds a tall tower of 6 or more blocksBody· 2.3y–3.2y· stretch· Step 9
- MilestoneDraws simple personMind· 2.8y–3y· stretch
- MilestoneUses mark-making toolsBody· 22mo–2.8y· core
- MilestoneBuilds a tower of four to six blocksBody· 16mo–2.5y· stretch· Step 9
- MilestoneBuilds a small tower of three or more blocksBody· 19mo–2.6y· core
- MilestoneUnderstands that they can use lines to enclose a space, and then begin to use these shapes to represent objects.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneDraws a person with multiple body partsMind· 3.5y–4.5y· core· Steps 6, 7
- MilestoneShows object-function knowledgeMind· 2.7y–5y· core· Step 12
- MilestoneControls tools effectivelyBody· 3.3y–5y· core· Steps 2, 5
- MilestoneHandles varied tools with controlBody· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Steps 12, 13
Visual example
Coming soon