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This summer will likely be different than you imagined. Stuck at home with your toddler, whom you had thought would spend his days at daycare or camp, you may start to wonder how to keep your kiddo engaged physically. And how will you know if your little one is falling behind?
Many parents around Charlotte are in the same boat. We reached out to Dr. Josh Martin, a pediatrician at Atrium Health Levine Children's Charlotte Pediatric Clinic - SouthPark, to find out how to keep our toddlers’ motor skills engaged this summer.
“One of the biggest benefits of daycare or preschool is getting all the stimulation from other kids and things,” Dr. Martin says. “It's not about how many toys you have. It's about what kind of toys you have. Parents should focus on buying toys that have multiple uses. A plastic car is just a car. My favorite toy from when I was younger was a set of wooden blocks that I used to build all sorts of forts and towers. I actually still have it.”
Blocks, playdough, and other toys are great for building fine motor skills, but don’t let gross motor skills like running go by the wayside this summer either.
From running outdoors to kicking a ball and beyond, you can make this a summer that’s full of fun and development for your child.
Here’s our quick guide, by age, of what your toddler should be working on:
One year old
Should be able to:
• Pull up and stand alone
• Bang two toys together
• Put a block into a cup
• Grasp food with a thumb and forefinger (known as the pincer grasp)
Dr. Martin said don’t worry if your one-year-old hasn’t taken a step yet, but if he or she hasn’t tried moving at all (i.e. rolling, crawling or cruising), you should talk to your pediatrician.
Many one-year-olds can also wave and point as well.
At home, you can encourage fine motor skills by serving your one-year-old finger foods and allowing him to play with blocks, play dough, sand and other sensory objects.
15 months old
Should be able to:
• Walk forward and backward
• Bend down and pick up a toy, then stand back up unassisted
• Wave “bye”
“A 15-month-old is probably the smartest creature on earth,” Dr. Martin says. But they often decide everything they used to like (vegetables, sleeping through the night) is now not going to work for them.
Tap into their rapidly expanding mind’s creativity by giving them pencils, markers, and crayons to begin scribbling with. You can also give your child a spoon or fork to begin eating with at this age — but be ready for a mess.
18 months old
Should be able to:
• Walk up steps
• Run
• Scribble
Help your 18-month-old develop fine motor skills by playing with blocks. Dr. Martin says at this age she should be able to stack two cubes on top of one another. Kids this age are also fond of imitating their parents when they do household chores, so don’t be afraid to let your little one “help” with the cooking and cleaning.
Dr. Martin also said 18-month-olds should be able to remove articles of clothing (especially shoes, which many of them hate!). Having them assist you in getting themselves ready each morning is a great way to hone their fine motor skills as well.
Two years old
Should be able to:
• Jump
• Throw a ball overhand
• Build a tower of four cubes
If you have a two-year-old, it’s time to break out the playground balls of all weights and sizes. Kids of this age should be able to throw a ball overhand and likely will have established either right- or left-hand dominance.
Continue playing with blocks — your 2-year-old should be able to build a tower of four cubes stacked on top of each other.
Three years old
Should be able to:
• Balance on one foot
• Jump forward
• Draw a vertical line
Encourage your 3-year-old to wash her own hands and brush her own teeth (with your help and supervision to make sure it’s done right, of course). Provide plenty of paper, crayons and markers because your little one should be a fairly efficient scribbler by this point.
You can also practice gross motor skills like jumping and kicking a ball outdoors.
Four years old
Should be able to:
• Balance on one foot for two seconds
• Copy a cross and a circle
• Draw a person with three parts
As your child gets older, he should have good control of his fine motor skills and you can examine these by having him draw. By age four, he should be able to draw a person with three parts (i.e. head, body and legs).
Don’t worry if your four-year-old can’t draw a triangle — Dr. Martin says the skills to copy that particular shape won’t come along until age 6. You can also fine-tune fine motor skills by having your 4-year-old cut along a straight line or cut out a specific shape you’ve drawn for him.
Keep in mind that every child is different and these milestones are general suggestions. If you think your child may not be up to speed on his or her motor skills, reach out to your pediatrician.
When should you worry?
Some “red flags” to watch out for include a child who has trouble feeding himself or using eating utensils by age four, or any child who seems to be extremely clumsy compared to her age-related peers.
Providing activities to help fine-tune your child’s gross and fine motor skills will help them grow and develop the way they should, even in the absence of playgrounds, parks and childcare centers.
“Throwing and kicking a ball, running, jumping, balancing and catching are all easily practiced in the back yard or the park,” Dr. Martin says. “Fine motor control and object manipulation can be encouraged through the use of play dough, sandbox time, scribbling or drawing, using scissors to cut shapes or even pretending to cook and clean along with parents.”
The bottom line for parents this summer is to be ready to play. Playing with your child is the perfect way to hone his motor skills while providing fun bonding time for you both.
Dr. Josh Martin is a provider Atrium Health Levine Children’s Charlotte Pediatric Clinic – SouthPark and has been practicing medicine for 10 years. He recently got married and is enjoying time with his wife. Outside of the office, he spends much of his free time reading, rock climbing, road biking, gardening, and mountaineering.
From our friends at Atrium Health Levine Children's: Whatever your child’s medical needs are, we’re here for them – with COVID-Safe care. We’re setting the national standard with innovative safety measures, so your family feels comfortable and confident each time you visit. See what we’re doing to keep you COVID-Safe.
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