Developmental Gross Motor Skills Schedule
0-2 Months
• Lying on back, bends and straightens legs (alternately or together) twice
• Rolls to back from both right and left sides
• Bends and straightens arms (alternately or together)
• When held in standing position, bears weight with knees flexed and feet flat
• Elevates head and upper trunk 45 degrees, bearing weight on forearms or hands
• Lifts and turns head so opposite cheek touches surface
• Holds back in rounded position when sitting
• Holds head so at least 45-degree angle exists between back of head and back
• Holds head in midline through more than 75% of movement cycle
• Raises head at midline and holds it in alignment when suspended vertically
• Holds head in midline for 2 to 3 bounces
• Lifts one foot, then the other in walking movement
3-5 Months
• Maintaining midline head and body posture, brings both hands to the midline while
lying on back
• Elevates head and upper trunk 45 degrees, bearing weight on forearms to see toy
• Rolls from back to left and right sides with opposite arm crossing the midline
• Lying on stomach, extends arms and legs (alternately or together) off surface
• Brings both feet to mouth for play or grabs feet with hands while lying on back
• Raises arms and legs (alternately or together) in smooth, fluid movements
• Holds head in alignment when tilted sideways
• Holds trunk off legs when sitting
• Holds head aligned while rotating head to follow toy
• Maintains balance while sitting
• Does not move his or her arms and legs when head is turned
6-8 Months
• From stomach, raises upper trunk, shifts weight to side, lifts free arm, and reaches
toward toy
• Grasps both feet and holds them
• From stomach, elevates head and stomach, bearing weight on palms
•Lying on back, shifts weight to side and supports self with arm while extending opposite
arm to reach for toy
• Rolls from back to stomach
• Rolls from back to stomach, leading with hips and thighs, followed by stomach and then
shoulders
• Uses arms to move forward 3 feet
• Maintains balance while moving hands and arms to grasp toy
• Pulls up to sitting position holding adult’s fingers
• Sits unsupported
• Retrieves toy, returns to upright sitting, and maintains balance
• Raises head above horizontal plane, extends trunk, and symmetrically raises hips and legs
into full extension
• Extends arms, straightens elbows, and bears weight on palms when tilted forward
• Breaks fall by extending arm and supporting self with open palm when tilted to one side
• Breaks fall by extending one or both arms and supporting self with open palm when tilted
forward
9-11 Months
• Raises and bears weight on hands and knees and rocks back and forth twice
• Creeps 5 feet on hands and knees with opposite arms and legs moving together
• Maintains sitting posture and uses hands and legs to scoot forward 3 feet
• Using stable object for support, raises to standing position
• Creeps completely over adult’s legs
• Lowers from standing to a sitting position without falling
• Takes 4 alternating steps in place or forward with trunk support
• Frees hand and body from support and maintains balance in standing position for 5
seconds
• Takes 4 alternating steps in place or forward
• Maintains balance while sitting and maniuplating toy
• Pulls up from lying on back to sitting position using chair for support
• Lying on stomach, raises to sitting position to reach toy
• Extends arms and head forward to recover balance and returns to upright sitting position
when pulled backward
• Stops fall by extending arm(s) backward and supporting weight on open palm(s) when
pushed backward
12-14 Months
• From sitting cross-legged on floor, stands without turning body more than 20 degrees
• Uses alternating steps to walk 8 feet while holding adult’s hand
• Walks unaided for 5 steps
• Picks up toy, returns to standing, and takes 3 steps without losing balance
• Creeps up 2 steps on hands and knees
• Walks 10 feet with narrow base of support, heel-toe gait, using reciprocal pattern for 5 feet
• In kneeling position, maintains balance while rotating head
• Without losing balance, corrals 8-inch ball with arms and/or hands
• Using hand/arm contact, rolls 8-inch ball forward
• Throws 3-inch ball in any direction by extending arm at shoulder or elbow
19-24 Months
• Runs forward 10 feet
• Stands on 2-inch line with one foot in front of other; toe of back foot is within 3 inches of
front foot
•Walks sideways for 10 feet, leading with same foot
• Walks with 1 foot on 4-inch line for 6 feet
• Jumps forward 4-inches without falling
• With feet together, jumps up 2-inches
• Jumps down 1 step without assistance (1 foot may lead)
• Walks up 4 steps without support from wall or rail (may place 1 or both feet on each step)
• Kicks ball forward 3 feet
• Throws small ball overhand 3 feet forward before it touches floor
25-30 Months
• Walks down 4 steps with support (may place 1 or both feet on each step)
• Walks backward 10 feet without heels touching toes
• Jumps up and touches line 2 inches above standing reach
• With hands on hips and without heels touching toes, takes 3 steps forward on 4-inch line
• Placing 1 foot on each step, walks up 4 steps (may use wall or rail for support)
• Jumps down from object 16 in. high without assistance (1 foot may lead)
• With hands on hips and without heels touching floor, walks on tip-toes for 5 steps
• Runs 30 feet
• Presenting extended arms directly in front, palms facing upward or facing each other,
attempts to catch 8-inch ball by bending arms toward chest
• Initiates overhand throw by moving arm upward and back; small ball travels 7 feet before
touching floor
• Initiates underhand throw by moving arm down and back; small ball travels 7 feet before
touching floor
• Using opposing arm and leg movements and initiating kick by extending leg back with
bent knee, kicks ball forward 6 feet
31-36 Months
• Using 2-footed takeoff and landing, jumps forward 24 inches
• Jumps down from object 18-inches high without assistance using 2-footed takeoff
and landing
• Using 2-footed takeoff and landing, jumps over string 2 inches off floor with tripping
• With hand on hips and without heels touching floor, walks on tip-toes 8 feet on 4-inch line
• Placing foot on each step, walks up 4 steps without support
• With hands on hips, stands on 1 foot for 3 seconds
• Catches 8-inch ball with arms extended
37-42 Months
• Runs 15 yards in 6 seconds or less
• Using 2-footed takeoff and landing, jumps forward 26-inches
• With hands on hips and without heels touching toes, walks forward 4 feet on 4-inch line
without stepping off
• Runs with arms moving back and forth across body and below waist, balls of feet used to
push forward, toes pointed forward, a high knee and heel lift, and trunk leaning forward
• With hands on hips, without heels touching toes, and without swaying more than 20
degrees, walks forward 8 feet on 4-inch line without stepping off
• With hands on hips, stands on 1 foot for 5 seconds
• Using upper trunk rotation, arms and legs moving in opposition, and initiating overhand
throw by moving arm up and back, throws small ball 10 feet forward
• Using an underhand toss, hits target with small ball
• With arms bent at 45 to 90 degrees at elbows and palms up or facing each other, catches
8-inch ball with hands, securing it to chest if necessary
43-48 Months
• Placing 1 foot on each step, walks down 4 steps without support from wall or rail
• Without letting other foot touch floor, jumps forward 6-inches on 1 foot
• Jumps up and touches line 3-inches above standing reach
• Runs and stops without falling
• With hands on hips and without heels touching toes, walks backward 4 feet without
stepping off 4-inch line
• Using 2-footed takeoff and landing, jumps forward at least 30-inches
• Hops forward on 1 foot, then hops forward on other foot
• With arms held overhead and without moving feet, stands on tiptoes
• With hands on hips and without swaying more than 20 degrees, stands on 1 foot
• Using an overhand toss, hits target from 5 feet
• Using upper trunk rotation and moving arms and legs in opposition, throws small ball
underhand 10 feet
49-54 Months
• With hands on hips and with toes touching heels, walks backward 5 steps with stepping
off 4-inch line
• Completes forward roll without turning more than 15 degrees to either side
• With weight transferred smoothly and evenly, gallops 10 feet
• Using 2-footed takeoff and landing, jumps forward 36-inches
• With hands on hips and body not swaying more than 20 degrees, jumps and turns so feet
land in opposite direction from starting position
• Hops 3 feet forward on 1 foot, changes feet, and hops back
• With arms held overhead, without moving feet, and without swaying more than 20
degrees, stands on tip toes
• With hands on hips and without swaying more than 30 degrees, stands on 1 foot then
stands on other foot
• Using an overhead toss, hits target from 12 feet away
• Bounces small ball so it bounces once and then hits wall from 5 feet away
• With arms bent and using hands only, catches small ball thrown from 5 feet away
55-60 Months
• Using 2-footed takeoff and landing, jumps over string 10-inches off floor without tripping
• Runs 10ft., picks up can, and returns to starting line without tripping or dropping can
• Maintaining balance, using opposing arm and leg movements, and using alternating feet,
skips 8 steps
• With hands on hips, with feet together, and without touching line or pausing between
jumps, jumps back and forth across line taped on floor
• Accurately imitates arm positions
• With hands on hips and without swaying more than 20 degrees, stands on each foot for
10 seconds
• Completes 3 sit-ups
61-72 Months
• Maintaining balance and rhythm, using opposing arm and leg movements, and using
alternating feet, skips 10 feet
• Without losing balance or letting free foot touch floor, hops 20 feet in 6 seconds or less
• Completes 5 sit-ups
• Performs 8 push-ups
• Using opposing arm and leg movements and initiating kick by extending leg back with
bent knee, kicks ball so it travels 12 feet in air
• Bounces and catches small ball
6-10 Years
• Participates in cooperative and competitive play in groups/teams of children; winning and
skills are emphasized
• Runs with speed and endurance
• Jumps, hops, skips
• Throws ball well at long distances
• Catches ball with accuracy
15-18 Months
• Creeps backward down 3 steps without support
• Walks up 4 steps without support (may place 1 or both feet on each step)
• Walks 10 feet quickly
• Walks backward 5 steps (may pull toy)
• With support only from adult’s finger, walks down 4 steps (may place 1 or both feet on
each step)
• Lifts foot and contacts 8-inch ball
• Maintaining balance, throws 3-inch ball by extending arm