Between 12 and 15 months, a child can pick up and release a small object without forearm support, known as which grasp?

• A. Superior pincer grasp
• B. Palmar grasp
• C. Inferior pincer grip
• D. Fist grip

Answer: (A)

Fine motor development moves from broad, whole-hand grasps to precise, fingertip control. By about 12 to 15 months, many children have a superior pincer grasp, a tip-to-tip grip using the thumb and index finger that lets them pick up small objects and release them with accuracy. Being able to do this without forearm support shows the hand and wrist are stabilized and the fingers can control small, delicate movements rather than relying on whole-arm motion. This precision is what distinguishes the superior pincer grasp from earlier grips, which are less precise and involve the palm or side of the fingers, and from a fist grip, which is simply a closed hand.