Buhata
Login Start for Free

Home › Life Terms

Parenting and child development

Gross motor skills

Movements that use the large muscles of the arms, legs and torso, like rolling over, sitting, walking, running and kicking a ball.

What It Means

Gross motor skills are the movements we make with the large muscles of the legs, arms and torso, as Cleveland Clinic defines them. In young children they show up as rolling over, sitting, standing, walking, running, kicking and hopping. CDC tracks them under movement and physical development on its milestone checklists, listing each skill at the age by which 75% or more of children can do it.

Try It: Step Through Movement Milestones by Age

Tap an age to see movement milestones from CDC's checklist for that age.

By 6 months

  • Rolls from tummy to back
  • Pushes up on straight arms when on the tummy
  • Leans on hands for support when sitting

These are examples. CDC's full checklist for each age lists more.

How Parents Say It

  • "She's pulling up on everything now."
  • "He's running everywhere and can't sit still."
  • "Our pediatrician asked if he can kick a ball yet."

The Breakdown

Movement milestones by age, from CDC's checklists

By this ageMost children (75% or more) can
6 monthsRoll from tummy to back; push up on straight arms when on the tummy; lean on their hands for support when sitting
9 monthsSit without support
1 yearPull up to stand; walk holding on to furniture
18 monthsWalk without holding on to anyone or anything
2 yearsKick a ball; run; walk up a few stairs, with or without help
4 yearsCatch a large ball most of the time
5 yearsHop on one foot

Gross or fine? Cleveland Clinic separates the two by where the movement happens and how big it is. Waving an arm uses big, sweeping movements of the shoulder and upper arm, which makes it a gross motor skill. Writing uses small, precise movements of the fingers and wrist, so it's a fine motor skillFine motor skillsSmall, precise movements of the wrists, hands and fingers, like picking up small bits of food, scribbling, stringing beads or doing buttons. See more.

When to talk to the doctor. CDC recommends talking with your child's doctor about any concern with how your child moves. Because each skill is listed at the age most children have already reached it, one that's missing is worth mentioning at the next well-child visit, or sooner if you're worried.

Good to Know

Children reach these skills at different times, and CDC's ages mark when 75% or more of children have them. A checklist helps you notice and describe what your child does, and the doctor decides whether anything needs a closer look. CDC's free checklists cover every well-child visit from 2 months to 5 years, and its Milestone Tracker app is another way to use them.

FAQ

What are examples of gross motor skills?

Rolling over, sitting without support, pulling up to standPulling to standWhen a baby grips something steady, like furniture or your hands, and pulls themselves up from sitting or kneeling to standing. See more, walking, running, kicking a ball and hopping on one foot. Each one uses the large muscles of the legs, arms and torso.

What gross motor skills should a 2-year-old have?

CDC lists kicking a ball, running and walking up a few stairs, with or without help, among the things most children can do by 2 years. If yours can't yet, mention it to the doctor.

What's the difference between gross and fine motor skills?

Gross motor skills use the large muscles of the legs, arms and torso, like waving an arm. Fine motor skills are the small, precise movements of the wrists, hands and fingers, like writing, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Do It in Buhata

Reminders, Calendar

Set a Reminder in Buhata a week before each well-child visit to look over CDC's movement milestones for your child's age.

Open Buhata

Related Terms and Categories

  • Fine motor skills

    Small, precise movements of the wrists, hands and fingers, like picking up small bits of food, scribbling, stringing beads or doing buttons.

  • Developmental milestones

    Skills most children can do by a certain age, like rolling over or waving bye-bye. CDC places each at the age 75% or more of children reach it.

  • Tummy time

    Time a baby spends awake on their stomach while an adult watches, which builds the neck, shoulder and arm strength for rolling, sitting and crawling.

  • Pulling to stand

    When a baby grips something steady, like furniture or your hands, and pulls themselves up from sitting or kneeling to standing.

Parenting and child development

Sources

Cleveland Clinic, "Gross Motor Skills: What They Are, Development and Examples"; CDC, "CDC's Developmental Milestones"; CDC, "Milestones by 6 Months", "9 Months", "1 Year", "18 Months", "2 Years", "4 Years" and "5 Years"

Last updated .