Which of the following is a 3-year fine motor milestone?

• A. Draws a single circle
• B. Draws a person with head and 1 other body part
• C. Cuts with child scissors
• D. Writes the alphabet

Answer: (A)

At three years, fine motor skills focus on gaining controlled, coordinated hand and wrist movements to form simple shapes. Drawing a single circle demonstrates the ability to execute a smooth, circular motion with a grasp and hand control appropriate for this age. It shows the child can plan and carry out a continuous movement in the hand, using a tripod grip and stable wrist action, which are typical milestones by age three.

The other tasks require more advanced skills or cognitive-linguistic development that usually come later. Drawing a person with a head and body parts involves additional planning and more complex drawing sequences. Cutting with child scissors requires more refined hand-eye coordination, bilateral hand use, and precision. Writing the alphabet combines fine motor control with literacy knowledge, which typically develops after basic shapes are mastered.