If a crayon is placed before a three-year-old child, how will this child attempt to pick up the crayon?

• A. Gracefully, with ease.
• B. Using only his/her thumb and pointer finger.
• C. Using his/her entire hand, more than likely fumbling through it.
• D. With a few fingers, manipulating it easily.

Answer: (C)

At three years old, children usually use a whole-hand grasp when picking up small objects like a crayon. The fingers and palm come together around the object, and the hand often moves as a unit, sometimes with a bit of fumbling as they coordinate the grip. Fine, precise control—using just a couple of fingers or a refined pincer grip—is still developing at this age, so grabbing with the whole hand is the most typical and expected approach. That’s why choosing the option that describes the entire hand being used, with some fumbling, best fits this stage of motor development. The other options imply a level of hand control that isn’t common for most three-year-olds yet.