Common Gross Motor Milestones

We are dedicating this August to all things gross motor!

Here are some common gross motor skills and the range in which a typically developing kiddo should be practicing and perfecting them. This information was extracted from the PDMS-2 and Effgen, “Meeting the Physical Therapy Needs of Children”.

We are hoping to provide you with some creative ideas next month on ways you can work with your child to encourage strengthening, improved walking quality, balance, and overall gross motor development. 

We recommend that you seek the advice of a medical professional if:

-Your child is significantly behind on the above milestones,

-Your child is not walking by 18 months,

-You notice any “asymmetries” (one side working differently than the other),

-Your child is >2 years old and struggles significantly with getting up from the floor, going up and down stairs, and/or jumping.

If you have questions or concerns, feel free to send us a message and we’ll do our best to steer you in the right direction and recommend the right person to see. Your child’s pediatrician is the best starting place for concerns regarding gross motor development. 

Interested in other developmental milestones? You can check the Center of Disease Control‘s website on development which provides good information for infants to children, has a Milestone Checklist, and even an app in which you can track your child’s progress.