The progression in abilities from first motor reflexes to intentional movement, from rolling to sitting to crawling, walking, running, jumping, and more. This also includes fine motor skills, the ability to control the small muscles in the hands and fingers to pinch clay, roll dough, and hold tools to make marks.

These Milestones from the CDC offer some clues to a child’s development:

2 Month Physical Milestones:

Open hands briefly; holds head up when on tummy; moves both arms and legs

4 Month Physical Milestones:

Holds head steady without support when being held; holds a toy when it is put in their hand; uses their arm to swing at toys; brings hand to mouth; pushes onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

6 Month Physical Milestones:

Rolls from tummy to back; pushes up with straight arms when on tummy; leans on hands to support self while sitting

9 Month Milestones:

Gets into a sitting position by themself; moves things from one hand to the other; uses fingers to “rake” food towards themself; sits without support

12 Month Milestones:

Pulls up to stand; walks while holding furniture; drinks from a cup without a lid, held by an adult; picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small pieces of food

15 Month Milestones:

Take a few steps independently; uses fingers to feed self some food

18 Month Milestones:

Walks without holding on to anyone or anything; scribbles; drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes; feeds self with fingers; tries to use a spoon; climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

2-Year-Old Milestones:

Kicks a ball; runs; walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help; eats with a spoon

30 Month Milestones:

Uses hands to twist things, like unscrewing a jar or opening a doorknob; takes off some clothing independently, like loose pants or a jacket; jumps off the ground with both feet; turns book pages one at a time when being read to

3-Year-Old Milestones:

Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni; puts on some clothes independently, like loose pants or a jacket; uses a fork

4-Year-Old Milestones:

Catches a large ball most of the time; serves self some food or water, with adult supervision; unbuttons some buttons; holds crayons or pencil between fingers and thumb (not in fist)

5-Year-Old Milestones:

Buttons some buttons; hops on one foot

Make your own game of bowling using recycled 1 or 2 liter bottles. make them fun by decorating them with colorful masking tape. Helpful tip, seal the top on with a glue gun so the bottles do not crush easily. Use any ball to knock down the pins.

Goal:  Children will develop large motor skills and hand-eye coordination with this activity.

Let children use blocks (cardboard or soft blocks work well), pillows/cushions, and even furniture to set up an obstacle course where they can climb, crawl under, and move in various ways to make their way through. This is also something that can be set up outside with natural landscape features, using chalk on sidewalk to mark areas, or even with riding toys as part of the course.

Goal: Children will work collaboratively to set up and run through an obstacle course.

Encourage children to name animals and then move their body like that animal. They can incorporate sounds as well. You might even make an ‘animal parade’. Talk about the different ways they move their bodies to look like the animal and name the body parts they use. (The book From Head to Toe by Eric Carle is a great resource for this activity).

Goal: Expand children’s vocabulary related to body parts and animal names and move in a variety of ways.

Lie the infant on their tummy on a blanket and sit in front of them. Show the infant a stuffed animal, ball or other toy that rolls encourage baby to reach for toy.

Goal:This activity exercises and strengthens baby’s arms, legs and stomach muscles. It also encourages scooting and crawling.