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Developmental motor skills


Gross motor skills: birth to 5 years

What are gross motor skills?

Gross motor skill development involves the large muscles in the arms, legs and torso. Gross motor activities are important to everyday physical activities like walking, running, throwing, lifting, kicking, etc. Gross motor abilities also form the basis for fine motor skills and relate to body awareness, reaction speed, balance and strength. Learn more about all developmental milestones by age.

Gross motor development milestones: General physical activity guidelines for children ages 0 to 5 years

Newborn to 2 months
  • Turns head to both sides while on back
  • Lifts head and able to turn to both sides while on belly
  • Head lag with pull to sit
  • Kicking both legs and moving both arms equally while on back
  • Performs tummy time on floor regularly

3-4 months 
  • Raises head in line with trunk when pulled to sit  
  • Pushes up on forearms and turn head side to side while on belly  
  • Tolerates tummy time well   
  • Rolls from belly to back  

5 months 
  • Rolls from back to belly  
  • Brings feet to mouth laying on back  
  • Pushes up on hands with arms extended while on belly  
  • Pivots in a circle while on belly to each side  

6-8 months 
  • Sits alone   
  • Reaches for toys to play in sitting   
  • Catches self with loss of balance in sitting   
  • Crawls on belly  

9-11 months 
  • Moves between laying down and sitting upright without help  
  • Crawls on hands and knees  
  • Pulls to a standing position with one foot leading  
  • Cruises around furniture  
  • Walks with two hands held

11-12 months 
  • Walks with one hand held
  • Stands alone for a few seconds

13-14 months 
  • Crawls up stairs  
  • Stands up from the floor without support   
  • Walks alone well  
  • Squats and stands back up without holding onto support  

15-18 months  
  • Walks up stairs with hands or rails to help  
  • Crawls down the stairs (on belly, feet first)  
  • Can run, though falls easily  
  • Kicks a ball forward

2 years 
  • Walks and runs fairly well   
  • Jumps in place with both feet off the ground  
  • Walks up and down stairs alone  
  • Kicks a ball with either foot

3 years 
  • Balance on one foot for a few seconds   
  • Jump forward 10-24 inches   
  • Catches a large ball   
  • Rides a tricycle

By 4 years 
  • Can run, jump and climb well, is beginning to skip  
  • Hops proficiently on one foot  
  • Can do hopscotch  
  • Catches a ball reliably  
  • Begins somersaults

By 5 years 
  • Skips on alternate feet and jump rope  
  • Begins to skate and swim  
  • Rides bicycle with/without training wheels    
  • Climbs well

This information is a general guide to help you determine if your child is progressing at the rate expected for his or her age. Please keep in mind that each child is unique and develops skills at their own rate.

Physical activity recommendations

By exploring many different types of movement, your child can build the confidence, motivation and physical competence to engage in an active lifestyle.

According to the American Heart Association, a daily dose of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is recommended for children ages six to seventeen years old. Infants and toddlers are recommended to get 180 minutes of activity spread throughout the day based on the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is suggested that both structured play as well as unstructured play should be incorporated throughout the day.

Ideally, children should participate in 60 minutes of continuous activity. However, for both older children and toddlers the daily amount of activity can be split up throughout the day. For example, two 30-minute segments or four 15-minute segments for children is still beneficial. Whether you’re at home or on the playground, here are some activities, that with proper guidance, may encourage your child to get moving: •

Indoor:

  • Infants/toddlers: crawling and walking over various surfaces such as creating obstacles with pillows and blankets; sitting with support at torso on an exercise ball, mommy/daddy and me classes (yoga, tumbling, swimming)
  • Children: bounce house play, jump rope activities, yoga, dance, gymnastics, cheerleading

Outdoor:

  • Infants/toddlers: mommy/daddy and me swim classes; water play in buckets or playing at water tables; infant/toddler swings or slides at the playground; obstacles over various surfaces such as gravel, grass
  • Children: swimming, sprinkler water play, water parks, marco polo, ice skating, snow tubing, sledding, roller skating, skateboarding, playgrounds, riding scooters, tricycle and bicycle riding, hiking, jumping and hop scotch activities, soccer, baseball, swinging

Our therapy programs can also help bring out the best in your child. From aquatic therapy, to sports therapy and more, our team takes an integrated approach, using the right therapy or therapies your child needs at the right stage in their development. We can help your child learn or regain the skills they need to be successful during everyday activities and participate with peers.

Problems with reaching developmental milestones? How to improve your child’s gross motor skills

If you have concerns regarding your child’s development or your child is regularly missing development milestones, physical therapy can assess development and address concerns. If you are concerned about your child's development of gross motor skills, a physician or therapist may be able to assist with an evaluation.

Physical therapists can provide a comprehensive examination of your child’s strength, balance, coordination and gross motor skills in order to determine barriers to safe body movement. We provide therapeutic activities that are engaging and specific to a child’s age, cognitive status, ability level and interests.

To make an appointment with a pediatric physical therapist, call one of these locations: 

  • Bon Air Therapy Center 804-323-9060 
  • Brook Road Campus 804-228-5818 
  • Fredericksburg Therapy Center 540-891-4485 
  • Glen Allen Therapy Center 804-273-6656 
  • Petersburg Therapy Center 804-733-7233 
  • Stafford Therapy Center 540- 659-7337 

Information provided by Kristen McBee PT, DPT; Anisha Craft PT, DPT, PCS; Renee Leiby PT, DPT and Jan Steinberger PT, DPT.

Toddler development - motor skills

Toddler development - motor skills | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content

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Children grow and develop fast during their toddler years. They start exploring their world more independently. Their coordination improves, and they begin doing more things for themselves. There are many ways in which you can help your toddler develop both their fine and gross motor (movement) skills.

What are motor skills?

Children develop 2 types of motor (movement) skills:

  1. fine motor skills
  2. gross motor skills

Fine motor skills involve using your hands and fingers to control small objects.

Gross motor skills involve using the large muscles in your body to make large movements.

Fine motor skills

Fine motor skills engage the small muscles in the hands and fingers so your child can:

  • hold
  • grasp
  • grip
  • pinch

Examples of fine motor skills are:

  • buttoning up a shirt
  • holding a pencil
  • picking up food

Children develop fine motor skills so they can learn how to look after themselves. These skills help them to eventually learn to write.

Fine motor skills are important. Evidence suggests there's a link between fine motor skills development and language, literacy and brain development.

Other examples of fine motor skills include:

  • clapping hands
  • cleaning teeth
  • picking up and putting objects down
  • putting on shoes
  • rolling playdough
  • shaking musical instruments

At what age will my child develop fine motor skills?

While all children develop at their own pace, they do reach some milestones within certain age ranges.

Babies start to grasp objects using their hands (but not necessarily their thumbs) between 5 and 6 months old. They usually start to play with hand-held toys between 6 and 12 months.

By 18 months, most toddlers will attempt more complex skills. These may include:

  • drinking from a cup independently
  • trying to dress themselves
  • using a crayon or pencil

From 2 years old, toddlers' fine motor skills become more sophisticated. They may start to show an interest in:

  • scribbling
  • drawing
  • trying to write

Between 2 and 3 years old, they might be able to turn doorknobs and screw jar lids.

By 5 years old, your child might show a preference for one hand over the other.

How can I help my child improve their fine motor skills?

You can help your child grow and practise their newfound skills through play and activities.

  • Paint, draw, glue and cut (with safety scissors).
  • Pick up objects with tongs or toy tweezers.
  • Play with blocks, Lego or do puzzles together.
  • Roll playdough into shapes and cut with cookie cutters.
  • Sand play using spades and buckets.
  • Stacking cups or containers so they can pop the smaller ones into the larger ones. They can also use them to fill with water and practise pouring.
  • Thread beads.

Gross motor skills

Gross motor skills involve the movement of the larger muscles in their arms, legs, and torso, such as:

  • crawling
  • jumping
  • running
  • throwing

You might notice that as your toddler builds their gross motor skills, they don't like to keep still.

When will my child develop gross motor skills?

Like fine motor skills, kids start developing gross motor skills when they're small babies. Even in their first 2 months, babies will kick their legs and wave their arms around.

At 6 to 8 months old, your baby should be able to roll, reach and sit independently (if only briefly).

Between 12 and 18 months, most babies are walking.

By 2 years old, toddlers can typically:

  • jump over small objects
  • throw a small ball or object
  • walk up and down stairs

Between 2 and 3 years, kids are capable of more complex movements such as:

  • climbing stairs without holding the railing
  • running faster
  • avoiding obstacles

At 3 to 5 years old, movement may progress to:

  • climbing on play equipment
  • walking on a balance beam

How can I help my child improve their gross motor skills?

Give your child the space to safely explore their environment and practise their gross motor skills.

You can expect a few falls and bumps. They'll likely be testing their physical limits to know how far they can run, climb, and jump. You can:

  • blow and chase bubbles outside
  • dance to music at home
  • encourage them to 'help' with everyday tasks, such as gardening or hanging clothes on the line
  • throw a large ball to them, and have them throw it back
  • visit playgrounds, parks, and the beach
  • wheel, push or ride on large toy

Try to limit screen time, as this can inhibit movement and physical play.

When to seek help

It’s normal for children to take different amounts of time to reach different milestones. However, if you feel like your child's motor skills aren't developing well, seek advice. See your doctor or child health nurse if your 2 or 3-year-old:

  • can't run
  • can't walk up and down stairs, even with help
  • has difficulty using small objects, like a crayon
  • doesn't scribble or try to draw
  • loses the physical skills they had before

Where can I get more information and support?

For resources on helping your child’s motor skills develop, you can visit the Learning Potential website.

You can call Parentline in your state or territory for advice and information:

  • Parentline ACT: (02) 6287 3833, Mon to Fri, 9am – 5pm AEST / Sat, 10am – 12 midday
  • Parent Line NSW: 1300 1300 52, Mon to Fri, 9am – 9pm / weekends, 4pm – 9pm
  • Parentline Queensland and Northern Territory: 1300 30 1300, 7 days, 8am – 10pm
  • Parent Helpline South Australia: 1300 364 100, 7 days, 7.15am – 9.15pm
  • Parent Line Tasmania: 1300 808 178, 24 hours, 7 days
  • Parentline Victoria: 13 22 89, 7 days, 8am – 12 midnight
  • Ngala Parenting Line WA: (08) 9368 9368 or 1800 111 546, Open 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Sources:
International journal of environmental research and public health (A Network Perspective on the Relationship between Screen Time, Executive Function, and Fundamental Motor Skills among Preschoolers), Queensland Government Early Childhood Education and Care (Developing motor skills), Victoria State Government (Literacy Teaching Toolkit - Fine motor), Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (Developmental milestones and the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standards), Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (Red Flags Early Identification Guide), Healthy WA (Child development)

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: July 2022


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