Gross Motor Functions - at 3, 4 and 5
Here are some ideas of what to expect from children at different ages!
I am three and here are some activities that I can try:
Stand on one foot (aim for 5 seconds)
Jump forward with two feet together (aim for 10 inches forward)
Jump over a low object like a hoola hoop
Hop on one foot (try for 5 hops even with hands held)
Gallop sideways
Kick a soccer ball that is resting on the ground
Walk on a low balance beam with arms out to the side for balance
Catch a medium ball by hugging it towards my body
Catch a bounced ball with two hands
Do a few pedals on the tricycle once it is started in motion and by three and a half pedal and steer in open spaces Walk up and down the stairs with a railing and two feet per step
I am four and here are some activities that I can try:
Stand on one foot (aim for 10 seconds)
Jump forward with two feet together (10 jumps in a row)
Jump forward with two feet together (aim for18 inches)
Hop on one foot (try for 5 hops on preferred foot and 2-3 hops on other foot)
Gallop forward
Kick a soccer ball that is rolled or kicked slowly to me
Walk on a low balance beam with arms out to the side for balance
Catch a medium ball hands and chest, sometimes catch without it hitting chest
Catch a bounced ball with two hands
Ride a tricycle well (pedaling, steering and getting started from a stationary position)
Walk up a few steps with no hands (two feet on a step) or up alternating feet with the railing
Walk down the last few stairs with no hands (two feet per step) or with alternate feet and the railing
I am five and here are some activities that I can try:
Stand on one foot (aim for 10 seconds on each foot)
Jump forward with two feet together (10 jumps in a row)
Jump forward with two feet together (aim for 18-24 inches)
Hop on one foot (try for 5 hops on preferred foot and 2-3 hops on other foot)
Kick a soccer ball that is rolled or kicked slowly to me
Walk on a low balance beam with hands on hips
Catch a medium ball hands and chest, sometimes catch without it hitting chest
Catch a bounced ball with two hands
Starting to catch a smaller ball with two hands
Ride a tricycle well (pedaling, steering and getting started from a stationary position) and able to ride two wheeler with training wheels (including back pedal to stop)
Gallop forward
Begin to skip forward
Walk up the stairs with no hands and alternate feet
Walk down the stairs with the rail and alternate feet or with no rail and two feet per step
I am three and here are some activities that I can try:
Stand on one foot (aim for 5 seconds)
Jump forward with two feet together (aim for 10 inches forward)
Jump over a low object like a hoola hoop
Hop on one foot (try for 5 hops even with hands held)
Gallop sideways
Kick a soccer ball that is resting on the ground
Walk on a low balance beam with arms out to the side for balance
Catch a medium ball by hugging it towards my body
Catch a bounced ball with two hands
Do a few pedals on the tricycle once it is started in motion and by three and a half pedal and steer in open spaces Walk up and down the stairs with a railing and two feet per step
I am four and here are some activities that I can try:
Stand on one foot (aim for 10 seconds)
Jump forward with two feet together (10 jumps in a row)
Jump forward with two feet together (aim for18 inches)
Hop on one foot (try for 5 hops on preferred foot and 2-3 hops on other foot)
Gallop forward
Kick a soccer ball that is rolled or kicked slowly to me
Walk on a low balance beam with arms out to the side for balance
Catch a medium ball hands and chest, sometimes catch without it hitting chest
Catch a bounced ball with two hands
Ride a tricycle well (pedaling, steering and getting started from a stationary position)
Walk up a few steps with no hands (two feet on a step) or up alternating feet with the railing
Walk down the last few stairs with no hands (two feet per step) or with alternate feet and the railing
I am five and here are some activities that I can try:
Stand on one foot (aim for 10 seconds on each foot)
Jump forward with two feet together (10 jumps in a row)
Jump forward with two feet together (aim for 18-24 inches)
Hop on one foot (try for 5 hops on preferred foot and 2-3 hops on other foot)
Kick a soccer ball that is rolled or kicked slowly to me
Walk on a low balance beam with hands on hips
Catch a medium ball hands and chest, sometimes catch without it hitting chest
Catch a bounced ball with two hands
Starting to catch a smaller ball with two hands
Ride a tricycle well (pedaling, steering and getting started from a stationary position) and able to ride two wheeler with training wheels (including back pedal to stop)
Gallop forward
Begin to skip forward
Walk up the stairs with no hands and alternate feet
Walk down the stairs with the rail and alternate feet or with no rail and two feet per step