Where should my son's fine motor skills be as he turns 3?

Well my son was scribbling at the age of 3 too and not even holding the pencil properly... then one day close to his 4th b-day he did! He's now holding the pencil properly, drawing pictures with actual faces on it, writing his letters... etc

It's normal and part of his development... however we did encourage him by getting some of the Kumon books, that are about tracing, there're simple lines -they get harder and harder but it's all about pencil control and future letter writing.

Encourage him to dress himself...it'll take longer in the mornings and you can certainly help with shirts and difficult parts.. but he should be able to put on his underwear and pants no problem... show him what the right way is (front/back) as for catching a ball he's too young to have that kind of coordination... encourage him though by playing with a soft ball in the house...and let him try and get it.

He seems like a normal boy, my son was very similar at that age and now a year later he's doing great!!! So it's just maturity and all children mature at different stages, and my son could care less about colouring and now he sits at his creative table and colours all the time!! It's amazing what he has accomplished in the last year/year and a half.

SO DONT WORRY!!!!!!!!!! He's FINE!! Give him time..

I have a 2 year old and 3 year old both getting occupational therapy for delayed fine motor skills through Easter seals for the younger one and the public school district for the developmentally delayed preschool.

Fine motor milestones

tower stack 1" blocks 8 high

string beads 1" on a pipecleaner 2 of them by 2

on string 4 of them by 3

snip with scissors 26 months

springloaded scissors snipping 22 months

cut on a line one-quarter inch thick by 36 months

draw a circle that ends are closer than one quarter inch in meeting by 3

vertical strokes 24 months

horizontal strokes by 20 months

catch a large ball 8-10" that is slightly deflated tossed at chest level when arms are out in position to catch 19 months

undressing 24 months

putting on a jacket or coat 3-3.5 years

pulling legos apart placing together 24 months

unscrewing an easy lid 36 months

tricycle pedaling 4 yrs

suggest practice on a magnadoodle, and with scissors, blocks, lacing beads or cards, also paint with water

Agree Kumon books are fantastic

writing letters 4.5 to 5 years

drawing basic pictures 4+

He sounds perfectly normal. His drawing will mature with practice. Maybe you could try a different medium eg crayon, pencil, texta, paint. Kids love drawing on concrete with chalk.

Most 3 year olds can't catch a ball or dress themselves.

Dont worry about what other peoples kids are doing. When he gets to school if there is a problem the teachers will let you know.

As I recall, when my kids turned three the doctor asked if they could peddal a tricycle. My two girls could, but my son could not. He should be getting ready to try dressing himself. You should lay his pants on the floor, so that he can sit, and pull them onto his legs. Put the shirt over his head, but let him get his arms into it. I really don't think you should be concerned. My son is in 1st grade now and you can hardly read what he writes, but his vocabulary is better than mine, and he reads better than any other 1st grader I know. You can't compare kids. If he has a problem, they will let you know in kindergarten. He is only 2, for now, just let him be a baby.

Try working with him with the things that you think he should know

practice and try one at a time

some children just develop at their own rate, don't stress

for writing there is something called the wiggle writer it is fun and helps develop fine motor skills

beading(as in putting beads in a string) is also very good to develop motor skills. but coloring is excellent for motor skills. try and make him write alphabets while he is scribling.you can even make him do cycling.

does he play around other kids? my son is always around older kids and adults so he picks things up faster. it helps.. he does dress himeself. but i always re dress lol and tell him good job.

my son is 3. he is learning basic stuff from flash cards. cant read. but can recognise some basic things. your child will catch up when he is ready. dont push him or you'll frustrate him. my son wont potty train.. so i am letting him do it when hes ready. off n on... good luck