Birth–11 monthsFine Motor SkillsPhysical Development: Moving and Handling
Reaches out for, touches and begins to hold objects.
Observe whether the child: reaches out for, touches and begins to hold objects.
What it looks like
Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.
Emerging
Just starting
Infant sometimes reaches or swipes toward an object and may touch it briefly, but grasp is fleeting or accidental. They may need the object placed into their hand to hold it.
What you might see
A toy is held within arm’s reach and the infant does not extend arm/hand toward it.
Hands remain mostly fisted and do not open to touch the offered object.
Looks at a toy but makes no directed arm movement toward it over 30 seconds.
Swipes at a dangling toy and brushes it once but does not attempt to grasp.
Touches the toy with fingertips, then pulls hand back without holding.
Holds a toy only when it is placed into their palm, then drops it quickly.
Expected
On track
Infant purposefully reaches out, touches, and begins to hold a toy for a short time in supported play (e.g., lying on back or supported sitting). Holding may be with a whole-hand grasp and they may drop it often.
What you might see
Reaches toward a toy and closes hand around it for a few seconds.
Touches a toy, then grasps after a second attempt (reach-touch-then-hold).
Holds a rattle long enough to look at it, then drops and reaches again.
Exceeding
Going further
Infant reliably reaches for objects within range, touches, and holds them long enough to explore (look, shake, bring closer) across different toys. They can repeat the reach-hold pattern multiple times in a session.
What you might see
Reaches out and grasps a toy from the surface (e.g., play mat) without it being placed in hand.
Holds an object for 10–20 seconds and explores by turning it or bringing it closer to face.
After dropping a toy, immediately reaches again to pick it up (repeats pattern).
Adjusts grasp when the toy slips (re-grips to keep holding).
Transfers the toy from one hand to the other, then continues holding/exploring.
Selects between two offered objects by reaching for the preferred one and grasping it.
Try this at home
Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.
Play mat: Hold a rattle just within reach—notice whether your baby reaches out, touches it, and then closes their hand to hold it.
Nappy change: Offer a soft cloth or small toy—observe whether your baby grabs it and keeps hold while you talk.
Pram time: Clip a toy within reach—watch if your baby reaches and grasps it rather than only looking at it.
After bath: Place a lightweight toy on the towel near their hand—do they reach, touch, and pick it up?
Story time: Let your baby hold a small board book corner or fabric page—see whether they reach and hold, then let go and reach again.
Connected behaviours
Behaviours that scaffold, follow, or co-emerge with this one.
The framework source and supporting developmental research.
Framework source
Development Matters in the EYFS (2012), Physical Development: Moving and Handling (birth–11 months).
Reaching, touching, and holding are core observable behaviours indexing early hand-eye coordination and voluntary grasp development.
Developmental research
Piaget, J. (1952). The Origins of Intelligence in Children.
Sensorimotor development theory emphasizes infants’ increasing intentional reaching and grasping as a basis for learning through action on objects.
Five-level rubric (detailed)ShowHide
The full progression underlying the three levels above. Used by the platform’s reasoning agent when planning activities and observations.
Not Yet
Infant does not reach toward nearby objects and rarely touches them, even when objects are presented within easy range. Hands may remain mostly closed or movements are not directed at objects.
A toy is held within arm’s reach and the infant does not extend arm/hand toward it.
Hands remain mostly fisted and do not open to touch the offered object.
Looks at a toy but makes no directed arm movement toward it over 30 seconds.
Emerging
Infant sometimes reaches or swipes toward an object and may touch it briefly, but grasp is fleeting or accidental. They may need the object placed into their hand to hold it.
Swipes at a dangling toy and brushes it once but does not attempt to grasp.
Touches the toy with fingertips, then pulls hand back without holding.
Holds a toy only when it is placed into their palm, then drops it quickly.
Developing
Infant purposefully reaches out, touches, and begins to hold a toy for a short time in supported play (e.g., lying on back or supported sitting). Holding may be with a whole-hand grasp and they may drop it often.
Reaches toward a toy and closes hand around it for a few seconds.
Touches a toy, then grasps after a second attempt (reach-touch-then-hold).
Holds a rattle long enough to look at it, then drops and reaches again.
Secure
Infant reliably reaches for objects within range, touches, and holds them long enough to explore (look, shake, bring closer) across different toys. They can repeat the reach-hold pattern multiple times in a session.
Reaches out and grasps a toy from the surface (e.g., play mat) without it being placed in hand.
Holds an object for 10–20 seconds and explores by turning it or bringing it closer to face.
After dropping a toy, immediately reaches again to pick it up (repeats pattern).
Reflexive
Infant reaches efficiently and adjusts hand position to grasp different objects (ring, rattle, soft toy), sometimes transferring the object between hands or re-gripping to keep hold while exploring.
Adjusts grasp when the toy slips (re-grips to keep holding).
Transfers the toy from one hand to the other, then continues holding/exploring.
Selects between two offered objects by reaching for the preferred one and grasping it.
