Gross Motor development involves the larger, stronger muscle groups of the body. In early childhood, it is the development of these muscles that enable the baby to hold his/her head up, sit, crawl and eventually walk, run and skip.

Between the ages of 3 – 4 years, your toddler should:

• Run around obstacles
  
• Walk on a line
  
• Balance on one foot for 5 – 10 seconds
  
• Hop on her preferred foot
  
• Ride a tricycle
  
• Walk up and down stairs with alternating feet, without support
  
• Jump from 12 inches with feet together
  
• Use a slide independently
  
• Climb well (not including ladders)
  
• Skip, leading with 1 leg
  

Between the ages of 4 – 5 years, your preschooler should:

• Walk a balance beam forwards & backwards
  
• Perform somersaults
  
• Balance on 1 foot for 8 – 10 seconds
  
• Skip, alternating feet
  
• Begin to jump rope
  
• Throw a ball to hit a target
  
• Jump back
  
• Pump and maintain momentum while on a swing (may be started with a forward push)
  
• Hop 5 times on 1 foot
  
• Climb the rungs of a playground slide ladder
  

Red Flags for Gross Motor Development (1 – 5 years)

If you notice or are concerned about some of the following things about your child, you may want to talk to your physician or another health professional.

• Child is not meeting developmental milestones
  
• Child walks funny
  
• Child walks on his/her toes all the time
  
• Child is excessively clumsy
  
• Something appears wrong with child’s legs and/or feet
  
• Child complains of persistent pain or fatigue
  
• Child’s skills are regressing