3 to 6 years
The preschool years of 3 to 6 years old see your child entering pre-kindergarten and into the primary school system. This is when having good balance and coordination will allow your child to participate fully and confidently with their peers in their community. If your child is struggling with their gross motor skills, they may either start to behave like the “class clown”, throwing themselves around and falling down easily to distract attention from their inability to keep up with their peers, or your child may withdraw from other children, preferring to play by themselves because they are often left out by others in group games.
Typical development
| Gross motor skill milestones | Age range for start of skill |
|---|---|
| Catching a ball with two arms bend | 3 to 3.5 years old |
| Standing on one leg for 3 counts | 3 to 3.5 years old |
| Walks up and down stairs, one foot per step | 3.5 to 4 years old |
| Running efficiently | 3.5 to 4 years old |
| Riding a tricycle | 3.5 to 4 years old |
| Hopping on one leg 3 counts | 4 years old |
| Running efficiently to be able to participate in group games | 4 to 4.5 years old |
| Jumping over a rope 15cm off the ground | 4 to 4.5 years old |
| Hopping efficiently 8 - 10 times on the spot | 4 to 4.5 years old |
| Climbing playground equipment with some assistance | 4.5 to 5 years old |
| Catching a ball in their two hands | 5 to 5.5 years old |
| Jumping with a jump rope | 5.5 to 6 years old |
| Swimming basic strokes independently | 5.5 to 6 years old |
| Riding a bike without training wheels | 6 years old |
| Able to participate in organised team sports | 6 years old |
If a child is not able to jump off the ground with 2 feet by 4 years old, then they are considered to be delayed in their gross motor skills. Another common concern parents might have is noticing that their child is tripping and falling over frequently.
Common parental concerns
- Your child is not yet able to ride a tricycle efficiently at 5 years old.
- Your child is not yet able to jump with 2 feet over a hurdle 10 cm off the ground.
- Your child is walking on their tiptoes most of the time.
- Your child is limping after a busy and active day playing.
- Your child is complaining of recurrent heel pain or knee pain or hip pain.
Common conditions that may contribute
Common Conditions that children aged 3 to 6 years old could have that contribute
to their delayed gross motor skills include:
Treatments that may support
Treatments that may support children aged 3 to 6 years old with delayed gross motor skills include:
What to do when you are concerned.
See your Family Doctor to discuss your concerns about your child, they may then
refer you to a Paediatrician or a Paediatric Physiotherapist to assess your child. Here
at Sydney Kids Physio, you do not need a doctor’s referral to see one of our Expert
Paediatric Physiotherapists. Just reach out to us:
@sydneykidsphysio on Facebook
@sydneykidsphysio-neeshagan on Instagram
The importance of Special Needs referral and support when starting school.
Depending on a child’s needs, abilities, and Developmental Assessment done before they turned 5 years old, schooling options can either be at a Mainstream School, Support Class within a Mainstream School, Support Unit, or Special Needs School. It is important to be aware that if your child needs to attend a Special Needs School, the Department of Education should be notified at least 2 years before your child starts school. An important consideration is equipment that your child may require to ensure that they are safe when travelling to and from school and when mobilising around the school environment amongst other children.
Not having a Developmental Assessment done by 5 years old, would mean that your child with special needs could be placed in a school without the right support for them.
Information for parents
As parents, you know your child best. If you feel and see something happening in your child which makes you worry or concerns you, trust your gut instinct. Even if the medical professionals, friends, family and well wishers say to you that “you are overreacting and paranoid”, it doesn’t hurt to speak to a trained and experienced Paediatric Physiotherapist about your concerns for your child.
Here at Sydney Kids Physio, our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists have been helping families and children since 2006. We see babies as young as 1 week old, including premature babies who might actually be 0 weeks old for corrected gestational age, to assess their gross motor skills development to make sure that babies aren’t delayed in their gross motor skills because of underlying neurodevelopmental conditions. The most common reasons why babies are delayed include low muscle tone, undiagnosed developmental delay, Cerebral Palsy and rare genetic disorders. Early Intervention Paediatric Physiotherapy can effectively manage and treat these neurodevelopmental conditions to help babies achieve their best potential and prevent secondary complications such as behavioural tantrums due to frustration, muscle contractures and neurological scoliosis.
The common misconceptions we see in the community are parents are told their baby is just small and so they are weak or that their baby is just lazy and they will move when they are ready to move. In reality, Paediatric Physiotherapy can help babies improve their core strength, balance and coordination to help babies learn to roll, sit, crawl and walk by 18 months old.
If you are concerned about your baby’s gross motor skills development, reach out to Sydney Kids Physio to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists. You don’t need a doctor’s referral to see a Paediatric Physiotherapist in Australia. Take advantage of our 15 minute FREE PHONE CONSULTATION.
We're only ever a phone call away.
Information for specialists
As Paediatric Physiotherapists, we are often working closely with General Practitioners, Paediatricians, Neurologists, Orthopeadic Specialists, Paediatric Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Dietitians, Feeding Therapists, Psychologists, Behavioural Therapists, Optometrists, Behavioural Optometrists, Orthotists and Podiatrists to help little ones achieve their best potentials.
Unfortunately, there are still many healthcare professionals who are unaware of what Paediatric Physiotherapists can do to help children with neurodevelopmental conditions improve their gross motor skills to achieve their milestone. The common myth that Healthcare professionals have about Physiotherapy is that a child has to be 2 years old before they can be considered to be delayed in their gross motor skills to need Early Intervention Paediatric Physiotherapy. In reality, even premature babies and newborns as young as 1 week old can benefit from Early intervention Paediatric Physiotherapy.
The issue with delays in a child accessing Paediatric Physiotherapy services is the missed opportunities to help a child achieve their gross motor skills milestones within normal chronological age range and at times resulting in a child not being able to walk. Early Intervention in the first 3 years of life takes advantage of brain neuroplasticity to change the developmental trajectory of a child with neurological conditions.A child is never too young to start Paediatric Physiotherapy.
If you are a Medical Professionals seeing a baby who seems to have poor head control, low muscle tone, high muscle tone or is missing their gross motor milestones, it is worthwhile referring them for Neurodevelopmental Physiotherapy to promote their gross motor skills.
Reach out to Sydney Kids Physio to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists about your concerns about the child you are seeing to find out if we can help improve their gross motor skills to allow them to increase their social participation with their peers and family. Together we can help more children build great foundations for bright futures.
We're only ever a phone call away.
Welcome
The Dream Team
It takes a village to raise a child, and that saying is never more true when you have a child with Special Needs. At Sydney Kids Physio, you can be assured that our team is committed to helping you equip your child with the skills they need to achieve their best potential.
Our Team led by Neesha Gan, an Expert Paediatric Physiotherapist with over 26 years of Physiotherapy experience, lives by our core values to deliver Expert Knowledge with Empathy, Respect and Transparent Communication. We understand that the journey of parenting is a lifelong journey filled with the greatest joys and the deepest sorrows which can be overwhelming and daunting at times. We have walked that journey together with thousands of families, and we believe that working together, we can and must create great foundations for bright futures. We look forward to being a part of your family’s journey.
