Developmental Milestones For Gross Motor Skills

(From www.childdevelopment.com)
0 - 6 Months
Developmental Milestone
  • Rolls over front to back and back to front
  • Sits with support and then independently
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
  • Poor muscle development for locomotion
  • Delayed ability to play independently
6 - 12 Months
Developmental Milestone
  • Crawls forwards on belly
  • Assumes a seated position unaided
  • Creeps on hands and knees
  • Transitions into different positions: sitting, all fours, lying on tummy
  • Pulls self to stand
  • Walks while holding onto furniture
  • Takes 2-3 steps without support
  • Rolls a ball in imitation of an adult
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
  • Delayed sensory development due to delayed interaction with toys and other sensory objects
  • Poor muscle development
  • Delayed play skills
18 months
Developmental Milestone
  • Sits, crawls, walks
  • Still has wide gait but walking/running is less clumsy
  • Pushes against a ball (does not actually kick it)
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
  • Delayed play skills
  • Difficulty interacting with the environment due to delayed ability to mobilize effectively
  • Poor muscle development
2 Years
Developmental Milestone
  • Walks smoothly and turns corners
  • Begins running
  • Is able to pull or carry a toy while walking
  • Climbs onto/down from furniture without assistance
  • Walks up and down steps with support
  • Picks up toys from the floor without falling over
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
  • Poor muscle development for running and jumping
  • Delayed ability to play independently and interact with the environment
  • Decreased ability to interact socially
3 Years
Developmental Milestone
  • Imitates standing on one foot
  • Imitates simple bilateral movements of limbs (e.g., arms up together)
  • Climbs jungle gym and ladders
  • Pedals on tricycle
  • Walks up/down stairs alternating feet
  • Jumps in place with two feet together
  • Able to walk on tip toes
  • Catches using body
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
  • Decreased opportunities for social interaction
  • Poor development of body awareness and movement planning skills
  • Difficulties using playground equipment
  • Difficulties or lack of confidence
  • Difficulties or lack of confidence interacting with other children in active environments (e.g. play cafes, playgrounds)
4 Years
Developmental Milestone
  • Stands on one foot for up to 5 seconds
  • Kicks a ball forwards
  • Throws a ball overarm
  • Catches a ball that has been bounced
  • Runs around obstacles
  • Able to walk on a line
  • Able to hop on one foot
  • Jumps over an object and lands with both feet together
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
  • Lack of confidence in movement based activities
  • Difficulties using playground equipment
  • Difficulties or lack of confidence interacting with other children in active environments (e.g. play cafes, playgrounds)
5 Years
Developmental Milestone
  • Able to walk up stairs while holding an object
  • Walks backward toe-heel
  • Jumps forward 10 times without falling
  • Skips forwards after demonstration
  • Hangs from a bar for at least 5 seconds
  • Steps forward with leg on same side as throwing arm when throwing a ball
  • Catches a small ball using hands only
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
  • May result in poor self-esteem when comparing self to peers
  • Lack of confidence in movement based activities
  • Difficulties participating in sporting activities
  • Difficulties playing with moving toys such as bikes and scooters
6 Years
Developmental Milestone
  • Runs lightly on toes
  • Able to walk on a balance beam
  • Able to skip using a skipping rope
  • Can cover 2 meters hopping
  • Demonstrates mature throwing and catching patterns
  • Mature jumping
Possible implications if milestones not achieved
  • Difficulty participating in sporting activities
  • May result in poor self-esteem when comparing self to peers
  • Lack of confidence in movement based activities

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