Gross Motor Skill Acquisition

Lateral bending

7 weeks gestation

Hand to mouth

9 weeks gestation

Neonatal period

birth to 10-12 days

Position and Posture: Newborn- 1 month

prone: physiological flexion, lifts head briefly, head to the side (no volitional control)

supine: physiological flexion, rolls partly to the side (haphazard, without control)

standing: reflex standing and walking (primitive reflex)

sitting: head lag in pull to sit

Major takeaways for newborn- 1 month

full term babies are in physiological flexion; preemies are in more extension

Motor skills achieved: Newborn- 1 month

volitional control not fully present, movements can be purposeful or random, hands fisted (normal if no presence of spasticity), vision is stronger laterally (peripheral), prefers objects up to 3 feet away, hypersensitive to light

Major takeaways for 2-3 months

head control emerges and intact by 3 months, primitive reflexes dominate here impacting volitional control

Position and Posture: 2-3 months

prone: begins to lift head to around 90 degrees, beginning to bear some weight on forearms- aids with lifting the chest and airway clearance, rolls prone to supine (weight- shifting)

supine: ATNR is strong (correlates with rolling, but lack of volitional/ dissociated control), reciprocal leg kicking begins, keeps head to the side

sitting: bopping head control, some head lag still present, needs max A to sit

standing: flexion of hips (crouch), poor weight- bearing (diminished from newborn)

Motor skills achieved: 2-3 months

begins opening hands more (volitional control), can visually track 180 degrees, grasp is reflexive, use of palmar grasp

Major takeaways for 4-5 months

rolling is emerging (dissociation happening)

Position and posture: 4-5 months

prone: bears weight via elbow extension, pivots in prone to find toys

supine: rolling supine to side- lying, brings feet to mouth- helps with ribcage

sitting: head control improving as seen in sitting (can turn head to the side), beginning to sit alone for short time

standing: bears majority of weight through extended legs with support

Motor skills achieved: 4-5 months

grasp and release of toys, by 3 months old the eyes should work together (convergence)

Major takeaways for 6-7 months

sitting begins, trunk/ postural control ramping up

Position and posture: 6-7 months

prone: rolling from supine to a prone position independently (transverse plane). Holds weight on one hand to reach for a toy

supine: lifts head

sitting: no head lag with pull to sit, sits independently

mobility: crawling backwards (propulsion v. reciprocal motion)

Motor skills achieved: 6-7 months

picks up objects with one hand, transferring objects between hands (volitional control), depth perception has fully developed, recognize their caregivers

Major takeaways for 8-9 months

mobility starting, crawling, pulling to stand, in/ out of sitting to move, cruising

Position and posture: 8-9 months

prone: transitions into QP (hands and knees)

supine: not much time here, wants to move

sitting: transitions from sitting to prone. Sits longer without UE support (trunk control). Pivots in sitting (exploration)

standing: pulls to stand at furniture, beginning to lower down from standing

mobility: forward crawling, cruising

Motor skills achieved: 8-9 months

supination beginning (goes with shoulder and scap stability), extends wrist (volitional), pointing with index finger (dissociated movement), release objects with control (motor control), crawling improves the eye- hand coordination, eye color (9 months)

Major takeaways for 10- 11 months

mobility ramping up, stand w/o support, squats

Position and posture: 10- 11 months

standing: stands w/o support for short period, pulls to stand via ½ knee. Squats to pick up object from floor

mobility/ locomotion: walks with 2 HHA, walks with 1 HHA, bear walk (creeps on hands and knees)

Motor skills achieved: 10-11 months

pincer grasp developing, puts objects into a container, able to see and judge distances to improve their grasp (pincer)

Major takeaways for 12- 15 months

mobility/ locomotion increasing with more dynamic balance needs and capacity

Position and posture: 12- 15 months

walks without support (indep. walking), fast walking, walks sideways, squats, throwing a ball (usually in sitting)

Motor skills achieved: 12- 15 months

stacking of objects, using supination functionally (turns objects over)

Major takeaways 16- 24 months

dissociation of movement with UE and LE and postural control needs

Position and posture: 16- 24 months

squatting during play, walking backwards, stairs: one hand via a marked gait, kicking a ball, throwing a ball (forward, in standing), squats with control to get toys

Motor skills achieved: 16- 24 months

paper folding, stringing beads, drawing vertical or horizontal line (copying), holding a crayon with thumb and fingers

Major takeaways for 2 years old

hip stability increasing, unilateral LE work

Position and posture: 2 years old

rides a tricycle, walking on balance beam, stairs: alternating down, catching a larger ball, hops on 1 foot

Major takeaways for 3-4 years old

improved postural and motor control, jumping, hopping (single limb), running around obstacles

Position and posture: 3-4 years old

throwing a ball: 10ft (on average), walking a line for 10ft without LOB, hops on one foot: 2-10xs, jumping forward with 2 ft, jumping over obstacles 12inch, throw and catch a small ball, control with running (avoiding obstacles)

Motor skills achieved: 3-4 years old

more control demonstrating shape drawing, hand preference may begin here

Major takeaways for 5-8 years old

skipping (5yo), increased muscle performance

Position and posture: 5-8 years old

skipping, galloping, activities involving 1 leg (hopscotch, squats, hopping), jump rope, bouncing a large ball, kicking with more force (further)

Motor skills achieved: 5-8 years old

buttoning, hand preference evident

Major takeaways for 8-12 years old

coordination increases

Position and posture: 8-12 years old

controlled motor pattern seen with throwing, running, jumping, coordination improving

Motor skills achieved: 8-12 years old

handwriting should be concise