School is starting and I’m excited to be back. My year off was great, but I’m ready to be at school again. Honestly, it’s almost a little break. I get to eat lunch sitting down, even if it is in my car between schools! In preparing for the start of the year I refreshed myself on the early years gross motor milestones. Previously, I had written a post on gross motor milestones for the first year of life. I thought I’d expand on it and include gross motor milestones for the first 5 years of life!
©Oksana Kuzmina/Dollar Photo Club
It’s important to remember, these milestones are to be used as a guide, and are based off a typically developing child. If your child has a diagnosis or was born prematurely some of these milestones may be later. Each child develops uniquely, and there are times that children may hit a milestone a little later, with no cause for alarm. This may happen for various reasons. This post is only for educational purposes only and does not replace an examination by a medical professional. If you have any concerns please be sure to contact your physician or therapist.
Early Years Gross Motor Milestones
Birth – 2 months
- Raises head slightly off the floor when placed on their stomach
- Alternating leg kicks
- Holds up head momentarily when supported
- Will thrust arms in play
3 Months – 5 Months
- When on stomach and propped on forearms lifts head and chest off the floor
- Brings hands into midline
- Bats randomly at objects
- Rolls from stomach to back
- Brings hands together at midline
- Grasps objects voluntarily
- Transfers toys from hand to hand
6 Months – 8 Months
- Sits independently
- Reaches for objects when on stomach
- Rolls from back to stomach
- Stands with support
- Pivots on stomach
- May start to pull along on stomach (army crawl)
9 Months – 11 Months
- Moves in and out of sitting independently
- Pulls to stand
- Creeps or Crawls
- Cruises
- Stands alone for a brief period of time
- Early walking may begin
- May begin to creep up stairs
12-15 Months
- Stands without support
- Begins walking
- Crawls up onto furniture
- Able to start, stop, and turn without falling
- Begins to run
- Can corral a ball is rolled to them
15-18 Months
- Can pull a toy behind when walking
- Legs are not as far apart when walking
- Can run on level surfaces
- Carries large toy without falling
18-21 Months
- Can seat self in small chair.
- Can propel ride on toy backwards and forwards (no pedal toy)
- Squats to play.
- Begins to learn to kick a ball
21-24 Months
- Runs without falling
- Jumps with both feet in the air
- Can jump forward 3 inches
- Climb up and down stairs while holding a railing and/or hand (step together pattern)
24-30 Months
- Jump from bottom step with feet landing together
- Can walk on tip toes 5 plus feet
- Begins to imitate one foot standing briefly
30-36 Months
- Can climb steps using an alternating pattern
- Can walk heel to toe on a straight line
- Can jump over a small stationary object
- Can balance on one foot for 5 seconds
- Can catch a playground sized ball with arms extended.
3 Years
- Can alternate up stairs without the need for a railing or hand
- Can run 45 feet in less than 6 seconds
- Forward jump 26” or greater with a two foot takeoff and landing
- Kicks a ball 6 feet
- Can stand on one foot with hands on hips with no sway greater than 20 degrees for 1-5 seconds
- Tip toe standing with arms overhead for three seconds (no feet moving)
- Catches a playground sized ball with securing it to chest with bent arms
- Throws ball overhand to hit a target 2 feet away
- Pedal tricycle short distances
- Climb on jungle gyms and ladders
4 years
- Walks down stairs alternating feet with no handrail
- Can stand on one foot for 5+ seconds
- Can navigate trike for turns and distances
- Able to walk a 2″ line 10+ feet without stepping off
- Gallops 5 feet
- Throws ball underhand 10 feet using opposing motions and trunk rotation
- Hops on one foot 3-5 times
5 Years
- Gallops 8 feet with opposing arm and leg motions
- Jump and turn 180 degrees in the air
- Pumps arms while running
- Skip 8 steps using opposing arm and leg motions
- Complete somersault with chin tuck without falling out to the side
- Begins to jump rope
- Can hop on one foot 8 times and switch to the other side and hop 8 times
- Hit a target throwing a tennis ball overhand 12 feet away
- Catch a tennis ball with hands only from 5 feet away
MY STORE
My store at Pink Oatmeal has ideas to get the kids moving at home, in the classroom, and in therapy! If you prefer Teachers Pay Teachers you can find me there too with even more ideas to get the kids moving!
I’d Love To Hear From You
Let’s stay connected! I can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!
What a great list. I don’t have kids, so it is intriguing to me to see the progression of how kids develop because I haven’t experienced it first hand. Little humans are a wonder!
Hi, great post. Do you have a similar one on fine motor skills for “early years”, I can only seem to find posts on the first year of life. Thanks.
I don’t have one but there is a great one for 0-6 years of age at Golden Reflections Blog http://goldenreflectionsblog.com/typical-fine-motor-developmental-milestones-ages-0-6-free-printable.html