Gross Motor Walking and running become more confident and coordinated, jumping starts to happen with both feet, and climbing structures like playground equipment becomes a fun challenge. Balance improves, allowing them to stand on one foot or walk along a line. Strength increases too, enabling tasks like pushing a friend on a swing or carrying a small backpack. Playgrounds and active games are great ways to encourage these skills.

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