Question
Which one of the following fine motor milestones will appear ahead of others?
| A. |
Copies a cross |
| B. |
Copies a circle |
| C. |
Draws a circle |
| D. |
Draws a cross |
Show Answer
|
Correct Answer » B Explanation |
 |
According to standard pediatric developmental milestone charts (Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, AAP developmental milestones, Denver Developmental Screening Test):
Fine motor milestones involving drawing/copying follow this sequence:
| Milestone | Approximate Age |
|---|---|
| Scribbles spontaneously | 15 months |
| Imitates vertical line | 2 years |
| Copies a circle | 3 years |
| Copies a cross | 4 years |
| Copies a square | 5 years |
| Copies a triangle | 6 years |
Why “Copies a circle” is Correct
Copies a circle
- Appears at approximately:
3 years of age
- Requires:
- Visual-motor coordination
- Basic pencil control
- Shape recognition
This is the earliest milestone among the given options.
Explanation of Other Options
A. Copies a cross
- Appears later:
Around 4 years
- More complex because it requires:
- Intersecting lines
- Better visuospatial coordination
C. Draws a circle
- In many developmental scales, “drawing from command/memory” is considered more advanced than copying.
- Copying a shape using a visual model appears earlier than independently drawing it.
Hence:
Occurs after copying a circle.
D. Draws a cross
- More advanced task
- Appears after copying a cross
- Usually around 4–5 years