1. 12-18 months old
• Imitates adult by scribbling and holds crayon
with a fist
• Starts to make marks with a crayon rather than
banging it
18 months old - 2 years old
• Paint or color without going beyond a large
piece of paper
• Starts to hold the crayon with fingers and thumb,
but still uses whole arm to color
2-3 years old
• Imitates horizontal, vertical, and circular marks
on paper (2 years)
• Copies a vertical line, horizontal line, and circle
(3 years)
3-4 years old
• Traces around the edge of a basic shape
• Starts to copy simple horizontal and vertical
letters (ex. E, L, T)
4-5 years old
• Copies a square, diagonal lines, and most letters
and numbers
• Colors mostly within the lines in a coloring book
• Holds crayon like an adult does, with thumb and
fingers near tip of crayon
• 5-6 years old
• Copies a triangle and most lowercase and
uppercase letters
• Prints own name
Simple and Fun Activities
• Make/trace shapes and letters with
fingers in paint, shaving cream, sand,
etc.
• Use sidewalk chalk to write and draw
• Mold, roll, and cut playdoh
• Tear paper to make collage pictures
• Clip a clothespin on a sponge for
modified sponge painting
• Use q-tips and watercolor paint to trace
letters and pictures
• Fold paper into snowflakes or paper
airplanes
• Sing songs and play games with finger
puppets
• Lacing and stringing beads
• Practice solving mazes and staying
within the lines of the maze
Developmental Milestones
Handwriting
Developmental Stages and Activities
Corcoran and Katleman, LLU Department of Occupational Therapy, April 2015
All information provided is a general guideline of development. It is important to remember
that all children develop at their own individual rate.