If your child is experiencing 3 or more problems on the checklist, physical therapy intervention may be helpful.
Infant & Toddler
Gross motor skills newborn to 14 months:
- 1-2 months: Baby will bend and straighten legs alternately or together
- 2-3 months: While on their tummy, the baby will hold their head up at a 45 degree angle between their chin and chest
- 4.5-6 months: Baby will sit with arm support with their arms in front of them
- 5.5-9 months: Rolling from tummy to/from back to both right and left sides independently
- 6-8 months: Independent sitting without arm or trunk support
- 7-9 months: Kneeling on hands and knees (quadruped position)
- 9-10 months: Pulling to stand at a surface supported with arms.
- 8-13 months: Creeping on hands and knees with belly off the ground
- 9-13 months: Cruising along a surface
- 10.5-13 months: Independent standing
- 12-14 months: Independent walking
12–15 Months
- Hold something out for you to take (they won’t always let go)
- Walk with one or both hands held, or walk alone without support
- Rock to rhythm while standing alone
- Stoop to pick up things on the floor
15–18 Months
- Throw a ball while sitting or standing
- Explore their world by climbing to things out of reach
- May start potty training (don’t rush—go at the child’s own pace)
18–21 Months
- Walk up stairs, holding an adult’s hand (or a railing)
- Climb and stand on a chair
- Roll a ball
21–24 Months
- Walk with more direction to their movements and remember familiar places as well as things that happened at those places
- Kick a ball forward without losing balance
- Walk up and down stairs alone (while holding on to a railing)
- Jump and stand on tiptoes
- Enjoy music and begin to develop a sense of rhythm
2–3 Years
- Walk between two straight lines
- Jump or walk backward
- Pedal a tricycle
- Run without falling
- Play on swings, ladders and other playground equipment with a fair amount of ease
- Jump about 8 inches from a standing position (broad jump)
- Use the toilet without help
Preschool (3-5 years)
preschooler
- Has low muscle tone; seems weak or floppy; difficulty sitting upright at circle
- Bumps into furniture or people, has trouble with body awareness or judging space around him/her
- Does not enjoy jumping, swings or having feet off of the ground
- Appears clumsy, falls frequently, poor balance
- Avoids playground activities; seems fearful or coming up or down the stairs
- Needs more practice than other children to learn new skills
- Has high muscle tone; muscles seem stiff
- Has difficulty walking up and down stairs
- Seems to have less endurance than peers
School Age
- Tends to be clumsier than other children (trips, falls, bumps into people or things, injury prone)
- Has low muscle tone; tends to lean on arms or slumps at desk
- Has difficulty jumping, swinging or climbing
- Has difficulty with motor activities that involve coordinating both sides of the body together (shoe tying, swimming, bicycle riding)
- Avoids physical education class, sports or playground activities
- Struggles with motor tasks the have several steps
- Movements seem slow and labored; endurance is less than same-aged peers
