Speech Pathology Resources

The Speech Language Learning Center strives to be your best resource for the latest developments in speech therapy. Please feel free to call us at (810) 733-3911 or contact us online for any questions. We're here to help you!
Speech Therapy — Psychologist Talking with Little Boy in Flint Township, MI

Speech Development Chart

Download the speech development chart  to help identify developmental milestones and read activities that you can do with your child from ages birth through five years.

If you have any concerns about you or your child's speech, please don't delay and hope the condition will improve. Call us at (810) 733-3911 or contact us online to make an appointment and know for sure.

Book & Educational Products

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Please visit our online Shop and call us at (810) 733-3911 if you have any questions at all.

Therapy Programs and Materials

Motor Development Milestones Chart

Fine motor skills generally refer to the purposeful and controlled movements of the small muscles of the fingers and hands. These movements usually coordinate with the larger muscles of the arms and trunk for stability and with the eyes for eye-hand coordination. Gross motor skills refer to the controlled movements involving the large muscles of the arms, legs and torso for sitting, crawling, walking, running, hopping and jumping. Children usually develop motor skills in a step-by-step progression. Typical development occurs within an age range with some skills developing earlier than others. If you think your child may have a delay in his/her motor skills, contact your physician for more information.
Birth to 3 months
  • Arm movement is mostly random (non-goal directed) and asymmetrical
  • Hands are fisted
  • Grasping reflex when placing a finger or object in hand
  • Brings hands to mouth
  • Watches the movements of his/her hands
3-6 months
  • Weight bearing on elbows while on tummy
  • Movements are mainly purposeful and more symmetrical
  • Reaches for toys with both hands
  • Hands are primarily open with thumbs out
  • Holds toys with palm and fingers but not thumb
  • Brings hands to midline
  • Holds bottle with both hands (4-5 months)
  • No longer stares at his/her hands
  • Looks at objects a few feet away 
6-9 months
  • Sits with an erect spine (6 months)
  • Transfers objects hand to hand
  • Straightens elbows when reaching
  • Rakes pellet-sized items with fingers
  • Holds items with fingers and thumb
  • Claps hands
  • May begin to crawl around 8 months
9-12 months
  • Crawling 
  • Creeping around furniture in standing 
  • Walks 3 or more steps with assistance
  • Can side sit (9 months) and assume a variety of sitting postures (11 months)
  • Points with index finger
  • Uses a neat, tip to tip pincer grasp on small pellet-sized items
  • Finger feeds many soft foods
  • Places items into an open container or into adult’s hand 
  • Removes socks
  • Likes to pull shoes off 
  • Holds foot up for shoe
12-18 months
  • Stacks two to three small blocks
  • Holds spoons and begins to manipulate to bring spoon to mouth 
  • Holds crayon in closed fist (power grasp)
  • Scribbles with a crayon using whole arm movements
  • Turns pages in a cardboard book (more than one at a time)
  • Holds object with one hand and manipulates it with the other
  • Places small items in a closed-neck bottle
  • Places one to two shapes in a three-shape geometric puzzle
  • Places large pegs in a pegboard
  • Holds arms out and pushes arms through to assist with putting on a shirt
  • Pushes leg through pants
  • Drinks from a straw
  • Can squat then stand again maintaining balance
18-24 months
  • Stacks three to five blocks 
  • Snips paper with scissors 
  • Strings two to three beads 
  • Imitates vertical and circular scribbles 
  • Turns pages of a book one at a time 
  • Places three shapes in a three shape geometric puzzle 
  • Drinks from a cup 
  • Can remove unfastened clothing
  • Throws ball overhand
2 to 3 years
  • Increases utensil use with little spillage
  • Imitates simple horizontal and vertical block designs 
  • Imitates a circle and vertical and horizontal lines 
  • Unscrews screw-top lid 
  • Begins manipulating small items within the hand 
  • Cuts paper into two pieces 
  • Holds crayon with fingers, not fist (pronated grasp) 
  • May use one hand consistently in most activities 
  • Puts on loose clothing like button front shirt or jacket without completing closures
  • Takes off socks, shoes and loose pants independently
  • Unbuttons one large button
  • Washes hands and face
  • Catches ball with arms and body
  • Jumps in place with feet together
  • Sits on toilet for at least 1 minute
3 to 4 years
  • Stacks five to seven small blocks 
  • Imitates circle and cross 
  • Manipulates clay and dough (pinches, rolls balls, snakes) 
  • Threads small beads on string
  • Stands on one foot for few seconds without losing balance
  • Hops forward one foot
  • Jumps over low objects
  • Puts socks on
  • Puts on shoes without fasteners (may be on wrong feet)
  • Buttons and unbuttons large buttons 
4 to 5 years
  • Copies a square and cross 
  • Cuts on a straight line 
  • Begins to use thumb and index finger to hold pencil/crayon (tripod grasp) 
  • Touches each finger to thumb 
  • Stacks 10 plus small blocks 
  • Draws person with simple shapes with six recognizable parts
  • Selects own clothing
  • Puts on shoes with little assistance
  • Combs and brushes own hair
  • Brushes teeth
5 to 6 years
  • Colors inside the lines 
  • Cuts out simple shapes 
  • Copies triangle 
  • Writes first name 
  • Handedness well established 
  • Mature, adult grasp of pencil well established (dynamic tripod) 
  • Makes simple breakfast and lunch (pouring cereal and milk, makes sandwich, can retrieve items and supplies)
  • Showers/bathes independently

Resources

Beery, K. E., & Beery, N.A. (2006). The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration, 2nd edition. Minneapolis: NSC Pearson

Calder, Tara (2007). Fine Motor Milestones. Super Duper Inc. Retrieved February 1, 2019, from http://www.superduperinc.com/handouts/pdy/145_fine%20motor%20milestones.pdf

Folio, M. R., & Fewell, R.R. (2000). Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, 2nd Edition. Austin: Pro-Ed

Retherford, K. S. (1996). Normal Development: A Database of Communication and Related Behaviors. Greenville, SC: Super Duper Publications

Klien, M.D., Ossman, N.H., Tracy, B. (1991). Normal Development Copybook. Tuscan, AZ: Therapy Skill Builders.

American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. www.aota.org
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