If you’re curious about what developmental milestones for gross motor skills to look forward to at each stage of your child’s life, look no further than this guide from Let’s Grow Pediatrics.
What Are Gross Motor Skills?
Gross motor skills are a key indicator of your child’s growth and development. Though each child matures at their own pace, these general gross motor milestones can help you get a sense of how your little one is progressing. Gross motor skills require the use of your body’s major muscles to execute everyday tasks, such as standing, walking, running, jumping, and sitting up straight. They also encompass hand-eye coordination activities, like throwing and catching a ball, riding a bike, or swimming.
Every baby is special and develops at their own rate. However, there are some standard developmental milestones for gross motor skills that act as a guide for you to help determine how your child is progressing. To assist you, we have provided a list of gross motor milestones based on age.
Gross Motor Milestones By Age
- From birth to two months of age, babies are able to hold their heads up for brief periods of time when supported. While lying on their backs, they can alternate between kicking their legs, and during playtime they can be seen thrusting their arms. When lying on their stomachs, they can even lift their heads slightly off the floor.
- It usually takes between three and five months for a baby to be able to lift their head and chest while they are on their stomach, have improved head control, roll from their stomach to their back, randomly swat at objects, bob their head while in a supported sitting position, roll from side to side, and sit briefly with arm support.
- It typically takes between six and eight months for a baby to be able to pivot around when on their stomach, pull themselves forward, roll from their back to their stomach, sit on their own for a short period of time, move from sitting to lying on their stomach, and stand up with support.
- Between nine and eleven months, a baby usually learns to rotate their trunk independently, scoot when sitting, crawl (an incredibly important skill), pull their body up to stand, and even stand alone for a moment.
- Between twelve and fifteen months, babies may be able to walk on their knees, walk independently without support, stand without support, crawl up stairs, and run, all without falling.
- Between sixteen and eighteen months, children should be able to walk up stairs one step at a time while holding onto a railing, walk sideways or backward, run stiffly, stand on one foot with assistance, and manage riding toys – all of which require good balance and coordination.
- Between nineteen and twenty-four months, a child should be able to do squats, jump in place, kick a stationary ball, and walk up and down stairs independently.
- Between the ages of two and two and a half years old, a child should be able to walk on a balance beam with one hand held, stand on a balance beam alone, walk up stairs one step at a time without the help of a railing, run well, stand on one foot for a brief period, jump off a step with their feet together, throw a ball overhead, and climb on play equipment such as ladders, slides, etc.
- From two to three years old, a child should be able to walk down stairs step by step without holding onto a railing, balance on one foot for 2-3 seconds, jump forward at least one foot, walk on a balance beam alone, and walk on tiptoe.
How Can My Child Benefit From Early Intervention?
At Let’s Grow Pediatrics, we believe in taking proactive steps to prevent delays and learned compensatory patterns in children with developmental diagnosis. As such, we recommend that a physical therapy referral be obtained prior to the first signs of delay. We offer evaluations for developmental disabilities, torticollis, and plagiocephaly from as early as 1 month of age.
Let’s Grow Pediatrics Is The Best Choice For Your Child
If your child is under 18 years old and has some form of injury or delays in development that is affecting their quality of life, he or she may be a good candidate for intensive physical therapy. To find out more about our treatment options and how your child can benefit from Pediatric Intensive Physical Therapy, reach out to Let’s Grow Pediatrics in Edmond, OK. Call 405-562-3485 to schedule your consultation today.
