When do children typically start threading beads as a fine motor skill?

Children typically begin threading beads as a fine motor skill around the age of 2 to 2½ years. At this developmental stage, children have advanced their hand-eye coordination and dexterity, allowing them to manipulate small objects with more precision. The skill of threading beads not only engages their fine motor abilities but also enhances their cognitive development by encouraging problem-solving and hand coordination.

Prior to this age, children may not possess the necessary motor skills or concentration required to focus on such tasks. For instance, under 6 months, infants are primarily engaged in basic reflexive movements and exploring objects through grasping rather than threading. Between 12 to 18 months, children are improving their grasp and beginning to stack blocks or manipulate larger objects but may still lack the refined motor control needed for threading activities.

By 19 months to 2 years, some children may start to show an interest in threading but may not fully master the technique until they reach the 2 to 2½-year mark. Therefore, the age range stated in the correct choice accurately aligns with typical developmental milestones for fine motor skill acquisition in children.