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Gross Motor Checklist

We often get asked for a resource and guide for gross motor milestones and when and if to worry. Attached is a Gross Motor Skills Checklist from Birth to 6 years old*:

0-3 months:

  • Able to lie on their stomach for short periods of time and lift and hold their head up as well as look in both directions
  • Able to lay on stomach, and push up on forearms
  • Able to bring their hand to their mouth
  • Able to move fists from closed to open
  • Moves arms and legs off of surface intermittently
  • Midline head position (when the head is aligned with the trunk with eyes facing forward and no rotation or tilt of the head).

RED flags (or reasons to act early or speak to your healthcare provider)

  • Difficulty lifting head on tummy
  • Does not tolerate tummy time at all
  • Stiff legs with little or no movement
  • Keeps hands fisted always and lacks are movements
  • Showing a head preference to once side.
  • Flat spot on head
  • Does not hold head in midline

4-6 Months Motor Milestones

  • Uses hands to support themselves while trying to sit
  • Rolls from back to tummy and tummy to back (over left and right side)
  • When supported in standing, puts weight through their legs
  • Reaches for toys with both arms when on their stomach
  • Pushes up through hands when on tummy
  • While on their back, reaches for toys
  • While on their back, reaches for their feet with both hands
  • Midline head position (when the head is aligned with the trunk with eyes facing forward and no rotation or tilt of the head).

RED flags (or reasons to act early or speak to your healthcare provider)

  • Shows a preference to turn their head one way or head tilts
  • Prefers to use one hand more than the other (shouod not have a hand preference til closer to 2 years old)
  • Rolls only over one side.
  • Unable to sit
  • Poor head control and difficulty lifting head
  • Does not reach with arms
  • Arches back when on their stomach or back
  • Inability to tolerate being on their back or stomach

7-9 months:

  • Sits independently
  • Sits and reaches for toys inside and outside their base of support without falling
  • Sits in a ring position with legs in front
  • Raises into sitting using their arms
  • Starts to push up on hands and knees to crawl in a reciprocal manner
  • Imitates others
  • Looks in both directions in sitting
  • Turns body in both directions while staying in sitting

RED Flags: (or reasons to act early or speak to your healthcare provider)

  • Not raising up into sitting
  • W-sitting (sitting on buttocks with hips turned inward and feet facing out)- this position allows for joint compensation without relying on
  • muscle activation
  • Slouched posture
  • Atypical (uncoordinated) crawling pattern
  • Only wants to play in sitting
  • Uses one side of the body more
  • Shakey arms or legs

10-12 months:

  • Pulls to stand
  • Cruises along furniture
  • Lowers to sitting through a squat position
  • Moves in and out of positions to explore, interact and play
  • Demonstrates sitting balance
  • Stands independently

RED FLAGS: (or reasons to act early or speak to your healthcare provider)

  • Difficulty getting into standing
  • In standing, goes up on tip toes immediately
  • Sits with weight to one side
  • Shakey arms or legs
  • W-sits often
  • Poor endurance in supported standing

13-18 months

  • Walks independently
  • Squats to pick up toys
  • Kicks and throws a ball in standing with no loss of balance
  • Crawls up and down a few steps

RED FLAGS: (or reasons to act early or speak to your healthcare provider)

  • Unable to stand on their own
  • Unable to walk on their own
  • Walks on tip toes
  • Unable to crawl to climb stairs

19-24 months

  • Walks up and down a few steps with assistance and control
  • Begins to run
  • Walks over all surfaces without frequent losses of balance
  • Throws and kicks a ball with force
  • Starting to catch a ball

RED FLAGS: (or reasons to act early or speak to your healthcare provider)

  • Afraid of equipment at the playground or avoids
  • Trips often
  • Walks on tip toes
  • Unable to step up 1-2 steps with assistance
  • Presents with flat feet

2-3 Years old:

  • Walks up and down a few steps on their own
  • Jumps off last step

RED FLAGS: (or reasons to act early or speak to your healthcare provider)

  • Not yet jumping with two legs
  • Loses balance often
  • Bumps into things often
  • Appears clumsy
  • Walks on tip toes
  • Avoids gross motor play

3-4 years old:

  • Stands on one leg with no support for three to five seconds
  • Jumps over small objects
  • Alternating up and down stairs (placing one foot on each step)
  • Begins to play simple gross motor games with 3 step directions
  • Starts pedaling on a tricycle, balance bike and/or a bicycle with training wheels
  • Hops on one foot

RED FLAGS: (or reasons to act early or speak to your healthcare provider)

  • Loses balance easily
  • Not steady or stable
  • Avoids gross motor play
  • Difficulty running
  • Difficulty with stairs
  • Lays down or leans often

5 – 6 years old:

  • Bounces and catches a ball
  • Skips
  • Gallops
  • Jumps on one leg multiple times then switches
  • Hop-scotch
  • Rides two wheel bicycle
  • Follows a 4-5 step gross motor sequence

RED FLAGS (or reasons to act early or speak to your healthcare provider)

  • Loses balance easily
  • Not steady or stable; appears clumsy or lacks coordination
  • Avoids gross motor play
  • Difficulty running
  • Difficulty with stairs
  • Lays down or leans often

*based on https://pathways.org/all-ages/milestones/ and please refer for other developmental milestones and videos