Physical gross motor development and movement is about how children use their bodies in their everyday lives and routines. It includes many milestones parents excitedly wait for.
Physical development skills create a foundation for the overall health and well-being of children. This domain fosters children’s physical activity to prepare them for optimal learning and discovery.
Here’s some examples of what most children are expected to do at ages 3, 4, and 5 within this developmental domain.
3 year old:
- puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or a jacket
4 year old:
- catches a large ball most of the time
5 year old:
- hops on one foot
In addition to looking for key milestones to monitor your child’s development, you can monitor for signs or look-fors that may indicate that your child needs extra support or may have a developmental delay.
A developmental delay could be detected if your child is not meeting the milestones for their age in one or more of the domains.
Bringing any concerns to your pediatrician and child care provider can ensure that your child gets the support that they need to help them be successful in school and beyond.
Definition
Strategies
Developmental Milestones
Resources
Detecting Delays
Who to Contact
Screening/Monitoring