What are gross motor skills?

What are gross motor skills?

The big (core stabilizing) muscles of the body must move as a whole in order to do daily tasks like standing and walking, sprinting and jumping, and sitting up straight at a table, which all need gross motor (physical) skills. They also include eye-hand coordination abilities for activities like swimming and biking, as well as ball skills (throwing, catching, and kicking).

3 Different Types of Gross Motor Movements:

• Locomotion is the verb for motion.

Locomotion is whatever a youngster does to move from one place to another. Rolling, crawling on the belly, crawling on hands and knees, scooting, walking, running, climbing, leaping, jumping, and hopping are some examples of gross motor skills that fall within the locomotion category.

• Moving in a stationary environment is referred to as “stationary skills.”

Head control, seated balance, standing on one or both legs, rising and falling, bending and stretching, pushing and pulling, swinging, swaying, twisting, and turning are examples of stationary gross motor skills.

• Manipulation is the practice of shifting things around in different ways.

Consider all the activities a youngster can do with a ball, including rolling, throwing, catching, kicking, stopping, and batting. These are all examples of manipulating gross motor skills.

Examples of Gross Motor Skills

The following are typical gross motor development milestones for newborns and toddlers:

Newborn to two months

Head lag and pull toward sitting

Lifts its head and is capable of doing a 180-degree turn when on the belly (see our tutorial for getting the hang of tummy time!).

When lying on your back, move both arms and both legs equally.

While on her back, she turns her head to both sides.

3-4 months

When pulled to sit, raise your head in a line with the trunk.

While on the tummy, raises the forearms and rotates the head from side to side.

Roll from belly to back (teach your baby to roll over using these 3 steps!)

5 months

Brings feet to mouth while resting on back

from back to belly rolls

Pushes up while lying on the belly and using the outstretched arms.

Revolves around its belly.

6 to 8 months

Recognizes balance issues when sitting.

On his belly, he crawls.

Reaches for toys while seated to play with.

Separately seated

9 to 11 months:

Crawls on all fours.

Circles the furniture.

Without assistance, she alternates between lying down and sitting up.

Raises one foot in front as they stand up.

Carries two hands when walking.

11–12 months: 

Carries something with one hand and walks.

Stands by itself for a short while.

13-14 months:  

Scrambles up stairs

Raises oneself off the ground without assistance.

Yes, being able to walk on your own requires gross motor skills. (Check out our tips for assisting kids who are almost ready to walk independently!)

Stooping and rising without assistance

15-18 months:   

As she ascends steps using rails or her hands for support.

Crawls on his belly, feet first, down the steps.

Forward-kicks a ball

The Importance of Gross Motor Skills Development

Any child’s growth should emphasize the development of their gross motor skills, which make up a significant portion of the motions they will employ in daily life. These abilities are required for anything from walking and running to reaching for something on a shelf.

Additionally, they are directly related to the development of fine motor abilities, which are seen in tasks like writing and cutting. A child’s posture can be helped by developing their gross motor skills, which also increase their likelihood of learning. It has been found that kids with poor gross motor skills for their age perform poorly in school and are more prone to getting tired.

Children who practice gross motor skills also engage in physical exercise, which is crucial for the growth of strong bones, muscles, and joints. Children who participate in physical exercise retain their body weight, suppleness, and important brain-body connections for attention.