Appropriate Motor Skills for a Two-Year-Old

Motor skills can be put into two categories: gross and fine. Gross motor skills are the ones that involve the large muscle groups, such as running, jumping and climbing. These skills require the use of the whole body or several parts at one time. Fine motor skills are small tasks that require smaller movements. These tasks are usually done with the hands and fingers, such as holding a crayon correctly or doing up buttons.

  1. Gross Motor Skills

    • A two-year-old child should be able to jump up and down with both feet leaving the ground at the same time and climb up and down stairs while holding on and putting both feet on each stair. She can also usually pull toys, climb on furniture to look out a window and get down, and assist in getting dressed and undressed. Children this age may also start to learn to ride a tricycle and stand on one foot, although these tasks might not be successfully accomplished until later in the year.

    Fine Motor Skills

    • At two years old, a child should also be able to build a tower of six blocks, push a train of three blocks, thread large beads, hold a crayon and imitate an adult making dots, circles and lines and use a spoon properly. At this age, one hand may start to become dominant. Later in the second year, a two-year-old may start to learn to cut paper with safety scissors.

    Other Factors

    • Professionals look at other things when assessing a child's motor skills. These include muscle tone and strength and range of movement. They also look at motor planning, which is, for example, the ability to look at a new puzzle, organize the activity so he matches the colors and the edge pieces, then put together the puzzle. Other contributing factors include attention skills and how she senses her environment and how it affects her.

    Guidelines

    • Remember that milestones for motor skills are only guidelines. Every child develops at his own speed. A child could be doing a few things very early and other things very late. If your child is behind on a few motor skills, there is usually nothing to worry about. However, if she is behind on many gross and fine motor skills, you may want to have your pediatrician evaluate your child.

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