Gross Motor – Tri-County Therapy | Pediatric Therapy | Speech Therapy | Physical Therapy | Occupational Therapy | Charleston, SC

What Are Gross Motor Skills?

Gross motor skills are the skills we use to move our arms, legs, and torso in a functional manner. Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body that enable such functions as walking, kicking, sitting upright, lifting, and throwing a ball. A person’s gross motor skills depend on both muscle tone and strength. Gross Motor skills are important for major body movement such as walking, maintaining balance, coordination, jumping, and reaching.

Crawling

Tri-County Therapy works with infants who are having difficulty meeting crawling milestones. Crawling requires a quadruped position, core strength, an [...]

Sitting

Tri-County Therapy's physical therapists work on sitting skills in infants who present with reduced core strength and muscular development required fo [...]

Walking, Running, and Jumping

Tri-County Therapy works with children who have difficulty achieving walking, running, and jumping milestones. Most infants begin to walk and take fo [...]

Birth - 2 Months

Raises head slightly off floor or bed when on stomach; holds head up momentarily when supported; alternates kicking legs when on back.

3 - 5 Months

Lifts head and chest when on stomach (props on forearm); head control improving; some head bobbing in supported sitting; rolls from side to side; rolls from stomach to back; sits briefly with arm support; random batting at objects; hands to midline; makes crawling movements

6 - 8 Months

Reaches to objects on stomach; pivots around when on stomach; pulls self forward on stomach; rolls from back to stomach; sits alone briefly; assumes “all four’s” position and rocks; moves from sitting to lying on stomach; stands with support

9 - 11 Months

Sits alone; pivots and scoots in sitting; creeps or crawls; pulls to stand; cruises; stands alone momentarily

12 - 15 Months

Assumes tall kneeling; walks on knees; walks independently without support; able to stand without support; creeps up stairs; able to start, stop and turn without falling while walking

16 - 18 Months

Walks with heel-toe pattern, seldom falls; walks sideways and backwards; runs stiffly; stands on one foot with help; kicks large ball forward after demonstration; manages riding toys.

19 - 24 Months

Walks down one step at a time with rail or hand holding; squats in play and stands back up; jumps in place; kicks a stationary ball

24 - 29 Months

Walks up stairs one step at a time with no railing; runs well; briefly stands on one foot; throws ball overhead; climbs on play equipment-ladders, slides, etc.

2 - 3 Years

Walks down stairs step-by-step without railing; jumps forward at least one foot; walks on tip toe when asked

3 - 4 Years

Catches a bounced ball; rides a tricycle; balances on one foot 2-5 seconds; walks up stairs step-over-step alone

4 - 5 Years

Balances on one foot 4-8 seconds; walks down stairs step over step alone; kicks a rolling ball; throws a small ball overhand

5 - 6 Years

Balances on one foot 10 seconds; skips; catches bounced or thrown ball with hands; walks on heels when asked