Have concerns about your child’s gross motor development? Here is a list of some important gross motor milestones that occur between birth and 6 years of age. If your child seems to be behind in their motor development or if you concerns about their quality of movement, our pediatric physical therapists are here to help!
0-6 months
- Brings hands to midline while on their back (1-3 months)
- Holds head up while on their stomach, bearing weight on their forearms (2-4 months)
- Holds head up to 90° while on their stomach, bearing weight on their hands (4-6 months)
- Brings feet to mouth while on their back (5-6 months)
- Rolls from stomach to back (2-5 months)
- Rolls from back to stomach (5-7 months)
- Sits momentarily while leaning on their hands (5-6 months)
- Pivots in a circle while on their stomach (5-6 months)
6-12 months
- Sits independently for long periods of time, may use their hands for support (5-8 months)
- Sits without using hands for support for 10 minutes (8-9 months)
- Bears a large fraction of their weight when held in supported standing and bounces (6-7 months)
- Gets into sitting without assistance (6-10 months)
- Pulls to stand at furniture (6-10 months)
- Crawls on hands and knees (9-11 months)
- Walks while holding onto the furniture (9-13 months)
13-15 months
- Stands alone well (12-14 months)
- Walks without support (13-15 months)
- Stands up from the floor (12-15 months)
- Walks sideways (14-15 months)
- 15-18 months
- Carries large toy while walking (17-18 months)
- Walks up and down stairs holding rail, both feet on each step (15-18 months)
- Throws small ball forward (15-18 months)
18-24 months
- Kicks a ball forward (18-24 months)
- Squats in play (20-21 months)
- Stands on tiptoes (23-25 months)
- Goes up and down the slide (23-26 months)
- 2-3 years
- Jumps in place (22-30 months)
- Runs (24-30 months)
- Walk backwards 10 feet (28-30 months)
- Stands on 1 foot for 5 seconds (30-36 months)
- Hops on 1 foot (30-36 months)
- Climbs jungle gyms and ladders (34-26 months)
- Walks up and down stairs without upper extremity support, both feet on each step (24-27 months)
- Catches a large ball (24-26 months)
- Rides tricycle (24-30 months)
3-4 years
- Stands on tiptoes for 10 seconds (38-42 months)
- Walks down stairs alternating feet without holding onto the railing (36-48 months)
- Jumps forward 2 feet (40-44 months)
- Jumps down 12 inches (38-42 months)
4-5 years
- Throws a ball 10 feet overhead (53-58 months)
- Hangs from monkey bar for 5 seconds (54-66 months)
- Walks on 4 inch balance beam (52-64 months)
5-6 years
- Runs through an obstacles course avoiding objects (60-68 months)
- Skips forward (60-72 months)
- Completes 1 sit-up (70-76 months)
- Completes 1 push-up (70-76 months)
**Milestones adapted from the HELP Birth to Three and HELP for Preschoolers
