Gross Motor Milestones

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0-3 months

  • Hands start to open up from a fisted position

  • When lying on tummy start to lift head slightly off the surface

  • Move arms and legs off surfaces when excited

  • Rotate head side to side to track toys or faces

  • Bring hands to mouth

4-6 Months

  • Roll stomach to back and back to stomach

  • Maintain sitting with light support or with hands propped

  • While playing on back can reach with both hands to grab a toy

  • Reaches for feet when playing on back

  • Can bear weight through both legs when supported in standing

  • Can push up onto elbows and lift head when on tummy

7-9 months

  • Maintain sitting without support or assistance

  • Sit up from lying on back or stomach without assistance

  • Reach for toys while sitting without falling over

  • Starting to crawl on hands and knees

  • Pushes up to palms of hands with elbows extended while playing on tummy

  • Pivots on tummy to get to toys

10-12 Months

  • Crawl on hands and knees for longer distances

  • Pull to stand to stable objects

  • Cruise along stable objects

  • Start to stand without support for short periods of time

  • Start to take steps with and without support

13-18 Months

  • Walk longer distances without support and with only occasional falls

  • Might still walk with feet flat without getting great heel strike

  • Walk on uneven surfaces with little to no support

  • Take steps side to side and backward without support

  • Go up/down steps while holding onto someone’s hand

  • Squat to pick up toys from the floor

19-24 Months

  • Move in and out of a variety of positions to play

  • Walks with heel hitting the ground first and not up on toes

  • Walk on uneven surfaces without support and with only occasional falls

  • Go up/down steps while holding onto a wall or handrail

  • Start to try to jump up in the air

  • Start to walk faster without falling and possibly even start running

2-3 Years

  • Run to play with peers

  • Jump up in the air and forward without loss of balance (pushing off with both feet at the same time)

  • Maintain balance while throwing/catching a ball

  • Maintain single-leg balance for a few seconds

  • Becoming more independent with climbing playground equipment

4-6 Years

  • Jump forward longer distances and down from higher steps without loss of balance

  • Hop on one foot without placing opposite foot down

  • Gallop

  • Skip

  • Throw/Catch/Kick a ball with increasing accuracy