Gross motor skills – what are they? Examples of disorders and exercises

Gross motor skills are at the center of attention for child psychologists, pediatricians, and parents. What are they, and why is their development considered so important? They develop first and are closely related to physical fitness. They include physical activities such as walking, swimming, waving arms, crawling, pushing up on hands, and running. How should gross motor skills develop, and how can they be supported?

What are gross motor skills?

Gross motor skills develop first; a child learns them as early as the fetal stage when moving in the womb. They encompass general physical activities that activate the muscles of the arms, legs, and torso. Based on these, fine motor skills, associated with manual abilities such as tying shoelaces and opening packages, are eventually formed. From these, in turn, stems graphomotor skill, which concerns writing and drawing.

Specialists emphasize how important it is for gross motor skills to develop correctly. Thanks to them, a young person can perform extensive movements using their arms, legs, and back. Examples of gross motor skills include walking, running, jumping, riding a bike, crawling, swimming, throwing a ball, kicking a ball, and pushing up on hands.

For a child to be able to perform the above-mentioned activities, they must engage their whole body. Complex movements require the coordination of muscles, joints, and senses. Their operation is controlled by the nervous system. Gross motor skills usually develop correctly, but sometimes disorders occur that should be consulted with a specialist.

If you notice motor disorders in a child, do not ignore them. A young person's physical fitness is very important, as it allows for normal functioning. It enables daily activities, play, learning, and work. Without gross motor skills, it is impossible to develop manual abilities, and consequently, writing and drawing.

Stages of gross motor development in children of different ages

Assessment of gross motor skills should always take into account the child's stage of development. Achieving consecutive milestones proves that there is no cause for concern and everything is progressing correctly. Some children crawl a bit later than their peers. This does not always indicate a disorder. The development of gross motor skills occurs at an individual pace. A problem arises when the speed of development deviates significantly from accepted norms. In such cases, it is worth consulting a specialist to determine the cause of the delays.

Gross motor skills develop in stages as follows:

• 0-3 months – the child lifts their head and moves their legs,
• 3-6 months – the baby rolls over,
• 6-12 months – the little one sits up, crawls, and walks while holding onto furniture,
• 1-2 years – the child walks, runs, and climbs,
• 2-3 years – the young person jumps, throws a ball, and rides a bike suited to their age,
• 3-4 years – the little one catches and kicks a ball, and also uses the slide at the playground.

What are gross motor disorders?

Gross motor disorders should be consulted with a specialist. They will assess whether there is cause for concern, conduct broader diagnostics if necessary, and indicate further steps. They may recommend performing special playful exercises with the child.

The most commonly diagnosed motor disorders include:

• difficulties with maintaining balance – the child often falls or bumps into things when moving and running,
• delayed milestone achievement – although every young person develops at their own pace, situations that clearly deviate from the norm should not be ignored. A specialist should then be consulted to assess why the child is not crawling or walking,
• difficulties with motor coordination – sometimes it happens that a child cannot hit a shuttlecock during a badminton game or catch a ball.

Gross motor skills provide the foundation on which manual abilities and writing and drawing skills are developed. Its disorders must not be underestimated.

Gross motor skills – exercise examples

Gross motor exercises play a significant role in their formation. Parents should perform them together with their children to support their proper development. Many of them are very simple and take place in a playful atmosphere. At the same time, they help build a close relationship with your child. Below are examples of gross motor exercises adapted to the child's age.

Gross motor skills in infants (0-3 months)

Gross motor skills in infants are limited to lifting the head and waving the legs. Exercises focus on strengthening these two skills.

1. Tummy time – during diaper changes, playtime, and shared time, it is worth placing the baby on their tummy. The young person then strengthens their neck, shoulder, and back muscles.
2. Leg movements – hold the infant's legs gently and move them in a bicycling motion. This positively affects coordination and stimulates the sense of touch.
3. Airplane game – it is recommended to lay the baby on your thighs facing you, then change the angle of inclination by gradually lifting your knees. The child then learns motor coordination and strengthens their muscles.
4. Hand exercise – place an attractive toy close to the baby. Let it encourage them to reach for it with their hand.
5. Changing the lying position – when the child is lying on one side, hold their hands so they roll over to the other.

Gross motor skills in infants (3-6 months)

A few months after birth, children's activity increases. Babies try to explore the world around them, which seems like an incredibly interesting place. At this point, you should work on gross motor skills, specifically on motor coordination and muscle strengthening.

1. Grabbing toys – encourage the baby to reach for things that interest them on their own.
2. Leg exercises – alternately bend and straighten them.
3. Rolling from side to side – the exercise from the first stage of development requires continuation. Hold the baby by the hands and roll them from side to side.
4. Play on an educational mat – ensure it has contrasting hanging toys that intrigue the infant. This will make the child try to reach for them with their hands and legs.
5. Crawling assistance – support the infant in maintaining balance and the direction of movement. Remove dangerous objects from their path.

Gross motor skills in infants (6-12 months)

The child develops gross motor skills quite quickly. Between the 6th and 12th month of life, they crawl, sit up, and take their first steps.

1. Supporting crawling – encourage the child to engage in this activity by spreading attractive toys around the room. Eliminate objects with sharp edges from the space or secure them properly.
2. Picking things up from the floor – show the baby how to grasp a toy lying on the floor and take it with them. Help them with this activity by holding the child's hand.
3. Taking first steps – hold the infant by the hips and help them walk. Adjust to their pace.
4. Climbing – make a mound of pillows and then encourage the baby to climb on it. This will allow them to practice motor coordination and balance.
5. Ball exercises – encourage the little one to roll or pass you a ball. Thanks to this, they will learn eye-hand coordination.
6. Movement games – their repertoire is quite broad. Some parents encourage their children to clap their hands, others to wave their arms.

Gross motor skills in children (1-2 years)

Children of this age are becoming more independent, so additional and more advanced gross motor exercises are introduced.

1. Walking on a line – you can draw it with chalk on the sidewalk. Then ask the child to walk along it, practicing balance and motor coordination.
2. Throwing and catching a ball – encourage the child to play this game as it supports eye-hand coordination.
3. Jumping – strengthen leg muscles by showing the young person how to jump forward and backward.
4. Climbing – take the child to a playground and let them climb a low climbing wall.
5. Walking games – show the child that you can position your feet differently during movement. Encourage them to walk on their toes or heels.

Gross motor skills in children (2-3 years)

As time goes by, you need to increase the difficulty of the exercises to stimulate the young person's development.

1. Running – encourage the little one to run against the clock or through obstacles.
2. Jumping over obstacles – place rice bags on the floor and show the child how to jump over them.
3. Throwing and catching – it is worth diversifying the game from the previous stage by increasing the distance between you and the little one.
4. Bike – this is a good moment to teach the child to use a balance bike or a scooter.
5. Walking on a low bench – this is a simple way to train the ability to maintain balance.

Gross motor skills in preschoolers (3-6 years)

At this age, team games can be introduced to make physical activity more attractive.

1. Team games – preschool teachers often encourage children to play dodgeball or kick a ball.
2. Jump rope – this is a simple way to strengthen leg muscles and motor coordination.
3. Biking – training wheels, which provide the young person with better stabilization on the road, should be attached to the bike.
4. Climbing – an older child can climb higher walls under adult supervision.

How to develop gross motor skills?

Most children like toys. Gross motor skills can be developed using them. Wooden swings are very popular. Attach them to the wall at home or on the terrace. Using them, the child learns motor coordination and strengthens muscles. At the same time, they have a lot of fun. Smaller wooden swings are designed for infants who are learning to sit in them. Bouncers, on the other hand, were created for older children, who can move their legs independently to set them in motion.

Wooden cradles will work well for younger children (up to 6 months of age). Not only do they make falling asleep easier, but they also exercise gross motor skills in an extremely gentle way.