Gross motor skills

Posted by Talking Matters on 1 June 2013

As parents we wait in anticipation for our child to take their first steps; ready to snap photos and jot down ages and dates in baby books. Those first steps are a kind of rite of passage from being a baby to being a child. Doctors, nurses, therapists and child care workers also document the age at which children walk, as well as sit, roll and crawl because these gross motor milestones give a rough guide to a child's development. Gross motor skills continue to develop after those first steps though with a little less attention. These skills are important as they provide the balance, control and stability needed for the development of fine motor skills which are vital for success at school.They also provide the skills needed to develop ball skills, sporting skills and other skills such as bike riding which are important for social interaction and physical fitness. So what are gross motor skills and what should we expect at different ages? How do we help kids develop these skills and why are they important?

Gross motor skills are the ability to move our body, arms and legs and they begin to develop before birth as the baby moves about in the womb. After birth these skills develop into the ability to roll, sit, crawl and walk, then run, jump and balance. These skills develop though out life and are dependant on the opportunities a child experiences to develop and practice these skills with each skill building on the one before and preparing the child for the next challenge.

The following is a rough guide to the typical development of gross motor skills in young children:

At 8 months babies can:

sit without support
move from tummy to sitting
kneel on hands and knees and rock back and forth

At 9 to 11 months babies can:

begin to crawl
pull up on furniture to standing
move from standing to sitting
sit for extended periods of time

At 12 to 14 months babies can:

cruise around furniture holding on
begin to walk independently
climb into a small chair
pick up things off the floor
squat to play with toys
play with push & pull toys

By 18 months toddlers can:

climb steps
creep backwards down stairs
kick and throw a ball
sit on a ride a push along toy
walk and rarely fall
walk up and down steps holding one hand

At 20 months toddlers can:

bend over and look between their legs
climb into an adult chair
carry toys when walking

By 2 years toddlers can:

go up and down stairs with railings
jump on the spot
jump off a step
run well
begin to pedal a tricycle

By two and a half years of age children can:

stand on one foot
climb stairs with alternating feet
walk on tip toes

By three years children can:

walk and run well
hop on one foot,
pedal a tricycle well
balance on one foot

By four years children can:

walk on a narrow board
skip on alternating feet
balance on one foot for 10 seconds
catch a large ball

By five years children can:

move easily between sitting, standing and squatting
sit upright in a chair
jump over things
know left and right

By six years children can:

hit a ball with a bat
begin to ride a bicycle
kick a ball from a running start

At seven a child can:

throw a ball with accuracy
catch a small ball with one hand

So how can parents encourage the development of gross motor skills? Skills develop through practice and repetition. Kids are more likely to repeat activities that are fun and where they feel supported, encouraged and successful. Focus on having a go rather than reaching perfection. Offer a variety of fun activities and follow your child's interests. Break trickier tasks down into smaller steps and allow plenty of rest breaks when needed. Remember that children develop at different rates, gently encourage but and don't push children to do things if they do not feel ready.

Here are some ideas for developing gross motor skills:

visit playgrounds for developing climbing, swinging, sliding and jumping
outdoor play for running, jumping, hopping, skipping
ball play for throwing, kicking, bouncing, rolling
skittles or bowling
throwing at targets, through hoops, into boxes or baskets
put a ball into a stocking and hang it on the clothes line and hit it with a hand, bat or rolled up newspaper
outdoor games such as chasey and follow the leader
pushing, pulling and carrying such as with wheelbarrows and buckets of water
bike riding and scooters
balancing on planks, bricks, tyres, rope or masking tape lines on the floor
go for a walk, run, skip, hop
explore a local park, walk up a hill and roll down
play hide and seek
go to the beach and walk, run, swim and dig
visit a play cafe
organised activities such as kinder gym, swimming, dancing and sports
playing with balloons, kicking, punching in the air, keeping the balloon form touching the ground

Remember to make sure your activities are safe and suitable for your child's age and always supervise your child.

There are also lots of great activity ideas on the Talking Matters Pinterest page.

If you are concerned about your child's gross motor skills an occupational therapist is the person to see for advice. Occupational therapist can assess your child's skills and advise you on what to do to help your child's development. For more information about occupational therapy check Our website.

Gross motor skills

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