What is the expected development pattern for gross motor skills in children?

The expected development pattern for gross motor skills follows the cephalocaudal to proximodistal progression, which starts from the head and moves downward to the rest of the body. This means that infants typically gain control over their head and neck before they can control their arms and legs. Initially, a child learns to lift their head, then sits up, stands, and finally walks.

Proximodistal development refers to the ability to control movements from the center of the body outwards. In this pattern, children develop control of their large muscles—such as those in their torso and arms—before mastering smaller, more precise movements, like those involving their fingers and hands. This understanding is crucial for caregivers and educators as they nurture children’s growth, ensuring that physical activities and learning experiences are appropriately challenging and supportive of their developmental stage.