This blog will discuss at what age your child should typically be hitting motor milestones. Each milestone has an age range. Each child will have their own unique timeline in which they meet these milestones. Some children might meet their milestones early/on time with no difficulty, some children may skip some milestones, while others may benefit from support from a physical therapist in order to progress their strength, balance, coordination, and overall development.
0-6 months
- Lifts head while laying on stomach
- Can turn head from side to side
- Brings feet to hands/mouth
- Can hold head upright when in a supported position
- Sits with support
- Rolls back to/from belly
- Pushes on straight arms when on belly
- Reaches for toys when on belly
6-9 months
- Pivots in a circle while on belly
- Crawls on belly
- Sits independently
- Gets up onto all fours
- Brings self into a seated position without help
- Stands with support
9-12 months
- Crawls on hands and knees
- Transitions into different positions (i.e. sitting, all fours, lying)
- Pulls self into standing
- Stands momentarily without support
- Walks while holding furniture (cruising)
- Takes 2-3 steps without support
12-15 months
- Stands without support
- Walks independently
- Lowers self to the floor from standing with control
- Crawls up stairs
- Moves from sitting to standing without support
15-24 months
- Walks fast and can change directions/turn
- Walks while holding toys
- Takes sideways and backwards steps by themselves
- Walks up stairs with the railing
- Walks down stairs with help
- Squats to pick up toys from the floor without falling
- Kicks a ball
- Climbs onto furniture
2-3 years
- Running
- Balance on one foot for 2-3 seconds
- Jumps forward with both feet
- Walks on tiptoes on request
- Jumps down from a step
- Walks up and down stairs with alternating feet without the railing
- Catches a ball
3-4 years
- Pedals a tricycle
- Jumps with 2 feet together 5 times in a row
- Walks along a line/balance beam
- Balances on one foot for 5 seconds
- Throws overhead
- Catches a ball
- Hops on one foot
4-5 years
- Jumps forward 10 times in a row
- Forward roll somersaults
- Hops on one foot 5 times
- Walks backwards on a line
- Jumps over an object
- Jumps sideways back and forth
5-6 years
- Balances on one foot for 10 seconds
- Walks up the stairs while holding an object
- Skips
- Completes 3 sit ups
- Completes 3 jumping jacks
6-7 years
- Monkeybars
- Rides a bike without training wheels
- 10 jumping jacks
- 5 sit ups
- 8 push ups
7-8 years
- Balances on one foot 10+ seconds with eyes open or eyes closed
- Walks along a balance beam 5+ steps
- Wall sit 30+ seconds
- Sit ups 5+
- Single leg hopping 10+ hops on either leg
- Jumps forward 36+ inches
- Side jumps without pauses between jumps
- Jumping jacks
- Scissor jumps
- Catching and throwing tennis ball
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s development, please contact your pediatrician and/or reach out to Pediatric Therapies Hawaii to schedule an evaluation. Don’t “wait and see,” early treatment is best!