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Physical Development

Gross Motor Development

Baby development

Physical development or gross motor milestones are skills that your little one will learn in a given time frame.

Here I will give an overview of the gross motor skills your child will develop as they grow.

Milestones develop in a sequential fashion, meaning that each skill your child masters will be built on the previous skill that they have developed.

Babies start their learning physical skills from birth; use the information below as a guideline to understand the physical developments of your little one during the early stages of their life.

The following physical developmental skills are only a guideline; each child will develop at their own pace, but if you are concerned that your child is falling behind, visit your paediatrician for an accurate assessment.



Birth to 3 months

Babies will learn the basics of movement, hand –eye co-ordination and the ability to grasp objects during this time.

  • They can open and close their hands
  • Put their hands in their mouth
  • Constantly plays their hands, and finds them fascinating
  • If supported they will hold their heads up for a bit by themselves
  • By the end of 3 months will lift their head and chest while lying on their stomach
  • Can bear some weight on their legs, if both feet are on a stable surface



3 Months to 6 Months

You little one is moving around more and you notice them becoming stronger:
  • Start rolling over by themselves
  • Reaching for toys
  • They will reach, grab and put toys into their mouth
  • Star discovering what their toys can do, and repeat the movements, like shaking a rattle makes a noise, so they will repeat this movement.
  • Make eye contact with you
  • Start turning their heads to look at objects



6 Months to 9 months

Your little is going to become more mobile during this time:
  • By the end of 9 months they will start crawling
  • Reach for objects and pull things towards themselves
  • Move toys from one hand to the other
  • Sits with support
  • Can stand and jump with support
  • Rolls from stomach onto back and from back onto stomach, without help



9 Months to 12 Months

By this time your little can:
  • Sit without support
  • Pull themselves into a standing position with help
  • Cruise around furniture
  • Throw toys and looks for them
  • Pick objects up with thumb and index finger
  • Hold their own bottle



1 year to 2 years

By now children can walk by themselves and initiate movement independently:
  • Walk alone
  • Pick toys off the ground while standing
  • Push and pull toys
  • Climb stairs with help
  • Dance to music
  • Point to objects
  • Wave goodbye, and understand the motion
  • Can climb and sit on a child’s chair by themselves



2 years to 3 Years

  • They can kick a ball forward
  • Can squat easily and stand up without using hands
  • Walk up and down stairs, with both feet on one stair
  • Balances on one foot with help
  • Can walk on tiptoes
  • Can run



3 Years to 4 Years

  • Can throw and catch a ball with both hands
  • Keep balance while walking on a straight line
  • Balance on one foot, unaided
  • Ride a tricycle alone
  • Sit with legs crossed on the floor
  • Can run around corners without stopping
  • Climbs up and down stairs one foot at a time
  • Climb up and down a jungle gym and use the slide without help



4 Years to 5 Years

  • Learns to walk backwards alone
  • Can hop forwards without loosing balance and falling
  • Jumps on one foot, alternating
  • Can do handstands and summersaults
  • Walk up stairs, one foot at a time unaided
  • Can skip



5 Years to 6 Years

  • They can now skip with a rope
  • Can count to 10 using their fingers, and understand how many fingers they have.
  • Have mastered the art of tying their shoe laces
  • Can draw a diamond unassisted and recognise the shape



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Physical Development

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