BIRTH TO SIX MONTHS
 The beginning of all of our adventures into are babies life. From your child's birth to six months of age there are a variety of reflexes and gross motor skills your child will integrate and develop. Below is a list of the primitive reflexes and gross motor skills that are found in a child in this age group. These are only average age appropriate goals and are not the only time at which a child is going to achieve these skills. If you have any questions please contact us and we will reply within 24 hours to you.
| Age |
Primitive Reflexes |
Fine Motor Skills |
Gross Motor Skills |
| Birth-1
Month |
- Palmar
grasp, Plantar Grasp
-
Moro, Galant, Startle, ATNR, STNR |
-
Hands fisted
- Finds
objects in direct line of sight |
- Begins to
lift head in prone position |
| 2-3
Months |
-Traction
response (this is when your child pulls with arms to sit
up) |
- Grasp is
reflexive
- Visually
tracks in 180º range |
-
Holds head up when at your shoulder
- Chest off
the ground when in prone |
| 4-5
Months |
-
ATNR and palmar grasp is integrated
-
Protective extension forward in sitting develops |
- Uses
ulnar-palmar grasp
- Grasps
and releases toys |
- Rolls
from prone to supine (belly to back)
- Grasps
and releases toys
- Bears
weight through extended arms in prone
- Baby
will find feet and play with them |
| 6 Months |
- STNR
reflex develops
-
Protective extension sideward in sitting position |
- Radial-palmar
grasp
-Releases
objects and transfers to other hand |
- Rolls
from supine to prone
-Transitions to sitting position independently |
*Information from Clinical Pediatric Physical Therapy. Katherine Ratliffe, MA, PT*
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SIX TO TWELVE MONTHS
Gross motor development during six to twelve months continues to make remarkable progress during locomotion skills. During this age a child may go from crawling on the floor to pulling to stand and possible walking. Below is a table that lists the gross motor accomplishments of a child in this age range. These are only average age appropriate goals and are not the only time at which a child is going to achieve these skills. If you have any questions please contact us and we will reply within 24 hours to you.
| Age |
Primitive Reflexes |
Fine Motor Skills |
Gross Motor Skills |
| 7 Months |
Moro Reflex inhibited |
- "Rakes" with fingers to pick up objects |
- Stands (weight bears) with both hands held
- Holds weight on one hand while reaching in sitting |
| 8-9
Months |
- Plantar grasp is inhibited
- STNR is inhibited
- Protective extension backward in sitting |
- Radial-Digital grasp
-Points with index finger
- Uses inferior pincer grasp |
- Gets in hands and knees position (quadruped)
-Sits without support
- Creeps on hands and knees |
| 10-11
Months |
- Equilibrium response in hands and knees (quadruped) |
- Fine pincer grasp
- Puts objects into containers
-Grasps crayons adaptively |
- Stands briefly without support
- Pulls to stand using developmental sequence (tall kneel-->half kneel-->standing) |
| 12 Months |
- Equilibrium reactions in standing
- Protective extension reactions forward in standing |
- Marks paper with crayon
- Builds tower using two cubes |
- Begins walking without support
- Throws ball in sitting position |
*Information from Clinical Pediatric Physical Therapy. Katherine Ratliffe, MA, PT*
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ONE YEAR TO TWO YEARS
This is the time when children are ending the crawling stages and beginning to escape in a much faster way, walking. Below is a table that lists the gross motor accomplishments of a child in this age range. These are only average age appropriate goals and are not the only time at which a child is going to achieve these skills. If you have any questions please contact us and we will reply within 24 hours to you.
| Age |
Primitive Reflexes |
Fine Motor Skills |
Gross Motor Skills |
| 12-13 Months |
- Protective extension in forward direction |
- Turns over small container to obtain contents |
- Stands (weight bears) with both hands held
- Holds weight on one hand while reaching in sitting |
| 14-16
Months |
- Protective extension sideways and backwards in standing |
- Folds paper
- Holds crayon with thumb and fingers |
- Walks sideways
- Creeps upstairs on hands and knees |
| 17-20
Months |
- Integrated |
- Strings beads
-Imitates vertical and horizontal strokes with crayon |
- Kicks ball
- Throws ball forward
- Propels ride on toys |
| 20-24 Months |
- Integrated |
- Turns knob
- Buttons large buttons |
- Walks up stairs with one hand support marking time (both feet on step) |
*Information from Clinical Pediatric Physical Therapy. Katherine Ratliffe, MA, PT*
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TWO YEARS TO FIVE YEARS
This is the time when children are ending the crawling stages and beginning to escape in a much faster way, walking. Below is a table that lists the gross motor accomplishments of a child in this age range. These are only average age appropriate goals and are not the only time at which a child is going to achieve these skills. If you have any questions please contact us and we will reply within 24 hours to you.
| Age |
Fine Motor Skills |
Gross Motor Skills |
| 2 years old |
- Opens and closes jars
- Does 12 to 15 piece puzzle
- Uses child-size scissors |
- Rides tricycle
- Runs on tiptoes
- Walks downstairs alternating feet
- Catches large ball |
| 3 years to 4 years old |
- Copies a circle or cross
- Draws squares
- May demonstrate hand preference |
- Throws ball 10'
- Jumps distance up to 2 feet
- Throws and catches small ball |
| 5 years old |
- Hand preference is evident
- Learns to draw
- Handwriting is developed |
- Skips on alternate feet
- Jumps rope
- Gallops |
*Information from Clinical Pediatric Physical Therapy. Katherine Ratliffe, MA, PT*
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FIVE TO TEN YEARS
The beginning of the school years for our children. Children tend to begin kindergarten around five years old and start their education. Below is a table that lists the gross motor accomplishments of a child in this age range. These are only average age appropriate goals and are not the only time at which a child is going to achieve these skills. If you have any questions please contact us and we will reply within 24 hours to you.
| Age |
Fine Motor Skills |
Gross Motor Skills |
| 5-7 years |
- Prints well
- Starts to learn cursive
- Able to button small buttons |
- Bounces large ball
- Kicks ball with greater control |
| 8-9 years |
- Develop greater control in hand usage
- Learns to draw |
-Improved balance, coordination, and endurance
- Enjoys competitive games |
| 10 years old |
- Handwriting is developed |
- Mature patterns of movement in throwing, jumping, and running
- Boys may develop preadolescent fat spurt
- Girls may develop prepubescent and pubescent changes in body shape |
*Information from Clinical Pediatric Physical Therapy. Katherine Ratliffe, MA, PT*
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TEN TO EIGHTEEN YEARS
The beginning of the school years for our children. Children tend to begin kindergarten around five years old and start their education. Below is a table that lists the gross motor accomplishments of a child in this age range. These are only average age appropriate goals and are not the only time at which a child is going to achieve these skills. If you have any questions please contact us and we will reply within 24 hours to you.
| Age |
Fine Motor Skills |
Gross Motor Skills |
| 10-13 years |
- Fine motor skills continue to increase during use of both hands |
- Mature patterns of movement in throwing, jumping, and running
- Boys may develop preadolescent fat spurt
- Girls may develop prepubescent and pubescent changes in body shape |
| 14-16 years |
- Develops greater dexterity in fingers for fine tasks |
- Rapid growth in size and strength, boys more than girls
- Puberty leads to changes in body proportions: center of gravity rises toward shoulders for boys, lowers to hips for girls |
| 17-18 years |
Fine motor skills well integrated |
- Balance skills, coordination, eye-hand coordination, endurance may plateau during growth spurt |
*Information from Clinical Pediatric Physical Therapy. Katherine Ratliffe, MA, PT*
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