Development: Gross Motor

Question 1

What is child development?

Answer 1

Child development is the process by which the dependent infant matures into the independent adult, functioning within society. It is a complex interweaving of biology, psychology and environment where each skill builds on the ones that have come before and provides a foundation for those skills yet to develop.

Question 2

What are the 4 domains of child development?

Answer 2

Child development can be separated into four major domains:

1. Gross motor
2. Fine motor
3. Language
4. Personal and social

Question 3

What are the red flags indicating developmental delay?

Answer 3

There are certain red flags for things that would suggest there is a problem:

• Lost developmental milestones
• Not able to hold an object at 5 months
• Not sitting unsupported at 12 months
• Not standing independently at 18 months
• Not walking independently at 2 years
• Not running at 2.5 years
• No words at 18 months
• No interest in others at 18 months

Question 4

What is gross motor development?

Answer 4

Gross motor refers to the child’s development of large movements, such as sitting, standing, walking and posture. Development in this area happens from the head downwards.

Question 5

At what ages should a child be able to support their head and keep it in line with the body?

Answer 5

4 months.

Question 6

At what age should a child be able to keep their trunk supported on their pelvis (i.e. maintain a sitting position) however they often don’t have the balance to sit unsupported at this stage?

Answer 6

6 months.

Question 7

At what age should a child sit unsupported, start crawling, keep their trunk and pelvis supported on their legs (i.e. maintain a standing position) and bounce on their legs when supported?

Answer 7

9 months.

Question 8

At what ages should a child begin standing and cruising?

Answer 8

12 months.

Question 9

At what age should a child walk unaided?

Answer 9

15 months.

Question 10

At what age should a child squat and pick things up from the floor?

Answer 10

18 months.

Question 11

At what age should a child run and kick a ball?

Answer 11

24 months.

Question 12

At what age should a child climb stairs one foot at a time, atand on one leg for a few seconds and ride a tricycle?

Answer 12

3 years.

Question 13

At what age should a child hop, climb and descend stairs like an adult?

Answer 13

4 years.