Gross Motor Skills: Development Stages, Milestones, and Examples
We all want our children to be active, healthy and strong. By investing in the right tools and encouraging physical activities, parents set a great example, encouraging their kids to mirror those habits. However, developing gross motor skills is key to supporting physical activities for kids and promoting overall motor skills improvement.
Through age-appropriate exercises, children can improve their balance and coordination while working on muscle development.
Developing gross motor skills is the secret to building their physical confidence and coordination. When you encourage movement early, you help your child build abilities that last a lifetime. This guide shares key gross motor skill examples for every stage. Plus, we’ll suggest activities that support healthy development to give your child a head start.
Key Takeaways
- Gross motor skills build the strength your child needs to move on their own. They also create the perfect base for learning to write later.
- Movement helps the whole brain grow. When your child crosses their midline, they build the focus and thinking skills they’ll need for school.
- Following milestones helps you pick the right activities for every age. It ensures your child gets the healthy mix of play they need to thrive.
Book a trial class today to see how Shichida’s play and learn games help your child master their milestones while building a strong foundation for the future.
Understanding Gross Motor Skills
As parents, you see your child growing every day. From taking their first unsteady steps to running freely around the playground, these movements are all part of gross motor development. Gross motor skills involve the use of the body’s large muscles. They are crucial for daily functions such as walking, jumping, climbing, and even sitting up.
These skills establish balance, coordination, strength, and confidence. They provide the foundation for fine motor skills such as writing or buttoning a shirt. Some students may need individual adjustments to support each gross motor development stage. According to the NSW Department of Education, tailoring support can make a meaningful difference, helping children learn and refine new gross skills effectively.
Looking for sensory play ideas that support motor development? This free sensory play guide includes simple, hands-on activities designed to strengthen coordination, body awareness and early gross motor skills through movement and exploration.
What are Large Motor Skills?
You might hear educators use the term large motor skills. These are the same as gross motor skills. It’s just a less formal way to refer to the gross movement of the arms, legs, torso, and back. Large motor development focuses on strength and the ability to move through space.
These skills focus on broad and less precise actions. They typically develop earlier than fine motor skills. For example, a baby will learn to crawl or kick a ball before they learn to hold a pencil. Developing these gross skills is about the brain-body connection.
To understand how different muscle groups support your child’s growth, read our article: Fine Motor Skills vs. Gross Motor Skills: What are the Differences?
Gross Motor Development Stages and Milestones
All children grow and develop at their own pace. Understanding common gross motor milestones can prepare you for what to expect. Here’s a guide to the developmental milestones for gross motor skills at different ages.
Infants (0-12 Months)
During the first year, your baby is busily establishing strength and mastery over their body. You will notice a consistent series of infant gross motor milestones. Some might bypass crawling and go directly to walking. Others progress steadily through each stage.
- 0-3 months: Lifting their head during tummy time and kicking their legs.
- 4-6 months: Rolling over and pushing up using their arms.
- 6-9 months: Sitting on their own and rocking back and forth on their hands and knees.
- 9-12 months: Pulling themselves up to stand and taking those wonderful first steps.
Floor time is essential at this age. Allowing your baby to explore freely builds muscle development in kids. It prepares them for their next big gross movement. At Shichida Australia, we use sensory play and movement games to help babies reach these milestones.
Photo by Shichida Australia: Babies enjoy floor and music time during a Shichida baby class – a vital part of developing gross motor skills like crawling, banging and reaching. Movement builds muscle strength, coordination, and brain-body connection from the very beginning.
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
The moment your child starts taking steps, they are a whirlwind of energy. This phase is all about honing toddler gross motor skills and independence of movement.
- 12-18 months: Independent walking and climbing furniture.
- 18-24 months: Running and kicking a ball.
- 2-3 years: Jumping with two feet and balancing on one foot.
Your toddler is developing more motor coordination to explore their world. Easy physical activities like running after bubbles or dancing assist them in gaining confidence. This is a critical time for gross motor skills development stages.
Photo by Shichida Australia: Toddlers dancing to an educational song during a Shichida Toddler Class. Music and rhythm are among the learning strategies used by Shichida to nurture early skills development in young children.
Preschoolers (3-5 Years)
By preschool age, kids are refining their preschool motor skills. They learn to move with greater control. This gross motor development stage is all about developing confidence and enjoying movement.
- 3-4 years: Hopping on one foot and riding a tricycle.
- 4-5 years: Skipping and catching a ball with both hands.
At this age, children enjoy testing their increasing strength. To find fun ways to keep your child moving, check out our guide: 30+ Fun Gross Motor Skills Activities for Preschoolers.
Photo by Shichida Australia: A preschooler practising cutting with scissors during a Shichida Kinder class. While cutting develops fine motor control, it also relies on core stability, coordination and overall body control – key foundations that support both gross and fine motor development.
Examples of Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skill examples involve the body’s large muscles. These enable children to move, play, and navigate their environment with confidence. Providing plenty of opportunities to move in various ways is the best way to facilitate large motor development.
Locomotor Skills
- Walking: Early on, you will notice your child holding onto furniture. Over time, they gain balance and the confidence to walk on their own.
- Running: This strengthens your child’s heart and builds strong leg muscles. It improves endurance and coordination.
- Jumping: Activities such as jump rope and trampolines help improve balance and agility.
Object Control Skills
- Throwing: This builds shoulder, arm, and core strength. It develops hand-eye coordination.
- Catching: This is a lesson in timing. It enhances concentration and reflexes.
- Kicking: Kicking a soccer ball teaches your child how to shift their weight and enhances spatial awareness.
Stability Skills
- Balancing: Simply walking along a line or hopping from spot to spot enhances stability and body control.
- Climbing: Navigating play equipment develops strength and problem-solving abilities.
Gross Motor Milestones Summary
Gross motor skill milestones by age, showing key developmental stages and example activities that build balance, coordination and physical confidence in children.
To learn why play is the best tool for physical confidence, explore our article: Enhancing Gross Motor Skills Through Play.
Factors Influencing Gross Motor Development
Your child’s growth is shaped by biological, environmental, and social factors. Each plays a role in how they develop gross motor abilities.
- Biological Factors: Muscle tone and genetics contribute significantly. Some kids are naturally born with stronger muscles.
- Environmental Factors: Access to safe play spaces like parks helps children build strength. Promoting active play at home supports agility.
- Social Factors: Your family’s lifestyle influences activity levels. Too much screen time can reduce activity. It is important to prioritise active play.
Recognising and Addressing Delays
It’s necessary to notice when your child might have delays in gross motor development. Being proactive can help them catch up. If your child fails to crawl by 10 months or walk by 18 months, this could indicate a developmental delay. Difficulty running or hopping may also be a cause for concern. Early detection allows you to seek support. Consult a healthcare provider if you have concerns. They can assess muscle development and general physical growth.
Photo by Shichida Australia: At Shichida, playful, movement-based activities are used to make learning fun, naturally enhancing children’s motor skills through songs and hands-on games – while guiding them to focus on developing fine motor skills, too.
The Shichida Approach to Development
This guide is a great start, but the best way to support your child’s development is to see the Shichida Method in person. We incorporate activities that strengthen fine motor skills, coordination and overall brain development for children from 6 months up to 9 years old, helping them grow with confidence.
All of our classes are fun and hands-on. We use songs, interactive activities and structured exercises to keep your child engaged and learning. Our teachers are here to guide you both through every stage.
Book a trial class today. It’s the best way to see how we give your child a head start!
FAQs: Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills are movements that involve large muscle groups, such as walking, running, jumping, and climbing. These skills are essential for balance, coordination, and overall physical development.
Most children start walking between 9-18 months, but each child develops at their own pace. Some may start walking earlier or later depending on their unique growth patterns.
Encourage physical play like crawling, climbing, running, or playing with a ball. Activities like dancing, obstacle courses, or playing on playground equipment also help strengthen muscles and improve coordination.
If you suspect a delay, consult with your pediatrician or a specialist. Early intervention can help address any issues and support your child’s physical growth.
Toys like push toys, balls, ride-on toys, and climbing structures can promote muscle development, balance, and coordination. Look for toys that encourage active movement and exploration.
Yes, they mean the same thing. Large motor skills is an informal way to refer to gross motor skills. Both involve large muscle groups in the arms, legs, and torso for movements like walking or climbing.
Encourage daily active play. Provide toys that promote movement, such as balls, tunnels, and ride-on toys. Praise their efforts as they try new movements to build their confidence.
At Shichida, we believe movement and the brain are linked. Our classes use songs and games to encourage gross movement. This builds the brain-body connection, which supports focus and memory.
