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Birth–11 monthsFine Motor Skills

Watches and explores hands and feet, e.g. when lying on back lifts legs into vertical position and grasps feet.

Observe whether the child: watches and explores hands and feet, e.g. when lying on back lifts legs into vertical position and grasps feet.

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 briefly watches hands or feet when they move into view and may bring hands together near the face, but sustained exploration is inconsistent. They may lift legs slightly but do not grasp feet.

What you might see

  • While lying on back, does not look at hands even when hands move across face/line of sight.
  • Kicks legs but does not bring feet up toward hands or gaze.
  • Shows no attempt to touch feet with hands during a short play period.
  • Stares at one hand for 1–2 seconds when it passes in front of the face, then looks away.
  • Lifts legs slightly but feet do not rise toward the torso and no grasp attempt occurs.
  • Touches a foot briefly with a hand once, then stops and does not repeat.

Expected

On track

Infant purposefully watches their hands/feet and sometimes lifts legs up while lying on their back, attempting to touch or grasp feet. Exploration happens in calm, supported play but may be brief.

What you might see

  • Looks at hands while opening/closing fingers for several seconds.
  • Lifts legs up and tries to touch toes with fingertips while lying on back.
  • Grasps a foot briefly (one hand on foot) then releases and repeats once.

Exceeding

Going further

Infant regularly watches and explores hands and feet, lifting legs higher and grasping feet while lying on their back. They sustain this exploration, alternating looking, touching, and grasping.

What you might see

  • Lifts legs into a higher position and grasps one or both feet while watching them.
  • Holds feet with hands for several seconds, exploring toes or rubbing feet together.
  • Repeats the ‘lift legs and grab feet’ pattern more than once in a play session.
  • Grasps both feet, brings them closer to body, and repositions grip to hold toes/ankles.
  • Alternates between grasping feet and watching hands (switches attention deliberately).
  • Initiates foot-grasping during independent floor time without adult prompting and sustains it through multiple repeats.

Try this at home

Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.

  • Floor play (on back): Give your baby a few minutes without toys—notice whether they look at their hands and then lift legs to explore feet.

  • Nappy-free time (supervised): Watch whether your baby reaches for toes and grasps a foot while lying on their back.

  • After a nap: When calm and alert, observe whether your baby brings feet up and holds them with hands, repeating the action.

  • Bath-time drying: While lying on a towel, see if your baby watches their feet and tries to grab them as you talk.

  • Music time: Play a gentle song—notice whether your baby rhythmically lifts legs and then grabs feet while looking at them.

Connected behaviours

Behaviours that scaffold, follow, or co-emerge with this one.

Where this comes from

The framework source and supporting developmental research.

Framework source

  • Development Matters in the EYFS (2012), Physical Development: Moving and Handling (birth–11 months).

    Watching and exploring hands/feet is an observable sign of emerging body awareness, coordination, and purposeful movement in infancy.

Developmental research

  • Karmiloff-Smith, A. (1992). Beyond Modularity: A Developmental Perspective on Cognitive Science.

    Developmental perspectives emphasize progressive reorganization of skills as infants gain control and awareness of their own actions and body movements.

Five-level rubric (detailed)Show

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 visually attend to their hands/feet and does not bring feet up for exploration. Movements are present but not oriented toward looking or grasping hands/feet.
  • While lying on back, does not look at hands even when hands move across face/line of sight.
  • Kicks legs but does not bring feet up toward hands or gaze.
  • Shows no attempt to touch feet with hands during a short play period.
Emerging
Infant briefly watches hands or feet when they move into view and may bring hands together near the face, but sustained exploration is inconsistent. They may lift legs slightly but do not grasp feet.
  • Stares at one hand for 1–2 seconds when it passes in front of the face, then looks away.
  • Lifts legs slightly but feet do not rise toward the torso and no grasp attempt occurs.
  • Touches a foot briefly with a hand once, then stops and does not repeat.
Developing
Infant purposefully watches their hands/feet and sometimes lifts legs up while lying on their back, attempting to touch or grasp feet. Exploration happens in calm, supported play but may be brief.
  • Looks at hands while opening/closing fingers for several seconds.
  • Lifts legs up and tries to touch toes with fingertips while lying on back.
  • Grasps a foot briefly (one hand on foot) then releases and repeats once.
Secure
Infant regularly watches and explores hands and feet, lifting legs higher and grasping feet while lying on their back. They sustain this exploration, alternating looking, touching, and grasping.
  • Lifts legs into a higher position and grasps one or both feet while watching them.
  • Holds feet with hands for several seconds, exploring toes or rubbing feet together.
  • Repeats the ‘lift legs and grab feet’ pattern more than once in a play session.
Reflexive
Infant explores hands and feet flexibly—grasping feet, bringing them toward the body, and using hands to touch toes repeatedly. They show clear intentionality (repeating the action) and may explore different positions (side, back) while maintaining engagement.
  • Grasps both feet, brings them closer to body, and repositions grip to hold toes/ankles.
  • Alternates between grasping feet and watching hands (switches attention deliberately).
  • Initiates foot-grasping during independent floor time without adult prompting and sustains it through multiple repeats.