Jennifer Christy, PT, PhD

Gross Motor Development Summaries

Age range Supine progress Prone progress to Sitting progress to Standing

to rolling crawling scooting and progress to
transitions walking
Neonate Disorganized Full flexion, can Full flexion; full head Neonatal positive
mov’t and turn head side to lag supporting and
physiologic side (righting and stepping reflex
flexion BOH)
1-3mths Asymmetry to COG moves back Less head lag on pull
symmetry; on shoulders/upper to sit; attempts to
random to chest; head lift 45 align head due to
purposeful mov’t; deg; wt on righting Astasia
increased ROM; forearms & ulnar (bouncing) with
visual tracking; borders. no real weight
accidental rolling bore on legs may
supine to side be seen from 2-6
and prone to mths.
supine
4-6 mths Bridging; hands Pivot prone; wt Prop sitting progress At 6 mths, infant
to feet; purposeful shifting; wt moves to independent should put weight
rolling prone to back toward pelvis; sitting; little to no on legs.
supine prone on elbows or head lag
extended arms;
Pivot prone;
beginning
quadruped
7-9 mths Purposeful rolling Crawling progress Wt shift; play with Pull to stand
supine to & from to creeping; toys in sitting; pivot using UE’s;
prone (NOB, beginning to creep and scoot; erect cruising sideways
BOB) on stairs; kneeling trunk; W-sitting; then forward;
beginning transitions steps with hands
to and from held
quadruped;
protective ext. side
and back.
10-12 mths Purposeful Plantigrade (bear Transitioning well; Pull to stand
segmental rolling crawl); up and rarely just sitting; through ½ kneel;
continues to down stairs; over squatting a lot. stand from floor;
develop legs; squatting independent
steps; cruising
well and squat to
pick up toys
 High Level Skills (after walking achieved):

Age Walk Run Climb stairs Gallop & Skip Narrow BOS
range
1’s High guard Runs stiffly Up & down 1 foot on line
progress to with eyes on with step-to
reciprocal arm ground – 10’ pattern; using
swing; rail; up without
sidestepping; rail
walk fast; walking
backward; one
foot on a line;
able to stand from
floor through
squatting
2’s Walk on tip toes; Awkward; Up with 3 steps fwd on
on line, 3 steps 30’ in 6 sec reciprocal line with hands
forward with or less pattern; with, on hips (not
hands on hips then without tandem) progess
(not tandem) rail to tip toes, hands
on hips
3’s 8’ on line with Good form; Down with 8’ on line, hands
hands on hips; 45’ in 6 sec reciprocal on hips (not
backward on line or less; pattern without tandem) progress
with hands on develop rail to backward on
hips ability to run line hands on
and stop (by hips (not tandem)
end of 3’s)
4’s Tandem on line 10’ shuttle Gallops Tandem on line
(with arms out) run in 5 sec 10’;progress to fwd or backward
or less skip 8 steps by (hands not on
end of 4’s hips)
5’s Tandem on line Smooth & Tandem on line
(hands on hips) coordinated fwd or backwd,
skipping; 10’ hands on hips
 High Level Skills (after walking achieved):

Age range Jump and Hop Throw catch Single leg Kick
stance
1’s Fwd 4”; up 2”; Fling ball 1 sec (end About 3’ (not
off 7” step with overhand of 1’s) straight to
1 foot lead straight)
2’s Fwd 24”; up 2” Beginning to Trap against 3 sec About 6’
above reach; move arm up body (straighter);
off 16-24” and back progress to initiates by
bench; 2” (overhand) or catch with flexing knee
hurdle down and back arms
(underhand) extended
3’s Fwd 26”; up 3”; Skill in throwing Catch with 5 sec Kicking
Hopping begins (trunk rotation, hands and continues to
(one foot); hop opposition) elbows develop with
fwd 5 hops over and flexed (arms increased trunk
each foot underhand; hits into body) rotation and
target from 5’ control
4’s Fwd 36”; Jump Hits target from Catch tennis 6 sec each
turn 180 deg; 12’; bounces ball with foot (beg of
hop on one tennis ball to hands 4’s)
foot, turn and wall to hit target progress to
change feet to 10 sec with
hop back; hands on
Jump 10” hips (end of
hurdle; jump 4’s)
sideways
5’s Hop quickly on Throwing Bounce and 10 sec with Kicks with
1 foot continues to catch hands on opposing arm
progress hips and leg; ball
travels in air
 Fine Motor, Social and Language Skills:

Age Fine motor Social Language

range
1-3 mths Opens and closes hands; Visual preference for Startle in response to
non-purposeful reach and humans; listens to sound; coos; cries for
grasp; developing eye/hand voice; may smile attn. (lessens with adult
coordination; fingers in contact)
mouth
4-6 mths Palmar grasp; holds toy or Enjoys mirror; Babbles; laughs;
bottle with 2 hands; rakes responds to familiar responds to name; turns
to pick up small objects people; laughs; head to a voice
(cheerios) excited by food
7-9 mths Controlled released; Desires to be with Shouts or vocalizes to
transfers objects; radial people; separation gain attn.; vocalizes
digital grasp anxiety syllables
10-12 Inferior pincer progress to Peek-a-boo; patty Says repetitive
mths pincer grasp (not between cake; bye-bye; fear of consonant “mama”
tips of fingers) progress to strangers; follows “dada”; waves bye-bye;
superior pincer (by 1 year) simple commands by gives objects on verbal
1 year request; vocalizes with
By 12 mths: rolls a ball; intent; points to 3 body
scoops with spoon; finger parts
feeds
1’s scribbles with crayon Separation anxiety Expressive jargon with
(immature grasp) lessens multiword utterance
(“mommy go”)
2’s Digital pronate grasp of Responds to Rapid language
pencil (arm pronated) another’s distress; increase; two part
includes others in sentences (“me go
pretend plan home”); 250+ word
vocabulary
3’s Copy and trace shapes; Physical more than More complete
static tripod grip verbal aggression sentences and adult-like
language
4’s Beginning cutting; dynamic TV 2-4 hrs per day Begins to imitate
tripod grasp of large pencil parents’ intonation
or crayon; buttoning pattern
5’s Dynamic tripod grasp Poor self-control; Language continues to
success depends on develop
removal of temptation
or diversion by others
6’s Zipper; tie shoes; writes Feels 1 way about a
with hand on table situation; Unable to
detect intentions
accurately in
situations where
damage occurs
7’s Small, controlled marks Developing ability to
with pencil see other points of
8’s Games requiring fine motor view; playing more
skills with friends
9’s Hobbies such as sewing
and models (high level fine
motor skills)

References:
1. Bly L. (1994). Motor skills acquisition in the first year: An illustrated guide to
normal development. San Antonio, TX: Therapy Skill Builders.
2. Folio, M.R., & Fewell R.R. (2000). Peabody Developmental Motor Scales
(PDMS-2). Austin, TX: Pro-ed.
3. Effgen S. (2005). Meeting the physical therapy needs of children. Philadelphia,
PA: F.A. Davis Company.