Child Development: Gross Motor Skills

 

Developmental Red Flags
By 12 MonthsRed Flag

  • No crawling or abnormal crawling pattern
  • No supported stand
  • Righting reactions not present
  • Not able to sit in a child-sized chair

Therapy Options

Baby with teething ring

Thankfully, there are many ways to deal with delays in child development and behaviors.

These include in-home services, outpatient (you take your child to a clinic), inpatient (following injury or surgery) and school based services. Which type of therapy should you choose?

Visit our Therapy Options area to learn more.

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Group of Therapists

We understand developmental milestones and the challenges of Special Needs children.  We spend a great deal of time with families understanding the inner workings of childhood routines and interactions.  Ask us about your child today!
 
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Contact Information

Mother & Baby 

Find Early Intervention Support contacts in your State.  If you have a question or comment for us, please visit our Contact page.

Gross Motor Skills for Babies: 9-12 Months

 

Most one-year-olds can:

  • Sit without support
  • Crawl
  • Pull up to a standing position without using chairs or other people, then stand
  • Walk while holding something for support (a hand or toy)
  • Imitate you as you roll a ball
  • Crawl on hands and knees
  • Pull to stand and cruise around furniture
  • Walk with 2 hands held
  • Stand for a few seconds
  • Move into standing by lifting one leg

Parenting Tips for Gross Motor Skills:

  • When your baby is between nine and twelve months old, open a large box at both ends and encourage him or her to crawl through the new tunnel.
  • Another fun tunnel can be made by placing a sheet over a table. Turn this into a game by calling your baby's name and rewarding him or her with kisses when he or she comes out of the tunnel.
  • Turn changing diapers into a mini workout. When your baby is kicking his or her legs, start singing a song. When he or she stops kicking, you stop singing. When he or she starts kicking, you start singing again. Your baby will be working those legs, plus enjoying being in control of your actions.
  • Containers are great toys. Now that your baby can sit, put a large see-through container in front of him or her with plastic lids, blocks anything that will fit in the container. Your baby will love putting things into the bowl and dumping them out.
  • Turn bath time into fun time. Measuring cups and plastic funnels are great in the tub. Or, take a small plastic watering can and making it 'rain' during bath time.

Gross Motor Skills by Age Group

Gross motor development involves the larger, stronger muscle groups. In early child development, it's the development of these muscles that enable it to hold its head up, sit, crawl and eventually walk, run, jump and skip.

Contact Information

Find Early Intervention Support contacts in your State. If you have a question or comment for us, please visit our Contact page.

Early Intervention Helps with Developmental Delay

For children with Special Needs, intervention in early childhood development means finding specific ways to help a child become as functional as possible.

Learn more on our Parenting Tips page.

 

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