Gross Motor Skills

Motor development¹ begins with simple skills and moves to more complex skills. This is why it is described in terms of a hierarchical pattern (see full Glossary) (Fig. 1). Delays in the development of gross motor skills should be addressed as soon as possible. For instance, a child may not be able to run, if he/she does not learn to stand and walk first.

Figure 1: A child learning to walk. He needed to stand up alone first.

Some signs of gross motor delay include:

Between 3 and 12 months old:

• Delay in opening hands;
• Difficulties holding head up;
• Difficulties sitting, with support or independently;
• Difficulties standing.

Between 12 – 18 months old:

• Difficulties walking and/or running;
• Difficulties going up or down the stairs;
• Difficulties with motor planning (see full Glossary);
• Difficulties with muscle tone (see full Glossary);
• Difficulties with the vestibular system (see full Glossary);
• Difficulties with the proprioceptive system (see full Glossary).

Between 18 – 36 months old:

• Difficulties kicking, throwing, rolling and catching a ball;
• Difficulties jumping and hopping;
• Difficulties with motor planning persist (see full Glossary);
• Difficulties with muscle tone persist (see full Glossary);
  • -Low muscle tone (i.e. hypotonia)
  • -High muscle tone (i.e. hypertonia)
• Difficulties with motor coordination (see full Glossary);
• Difficulties with the vestibular system vestibular system persist (see full Glossary);
• Difficulties with the proprioceptive system proprioceptive system persist (see full Glossary).

1. see References