Motor Development: The First Five Years

Navigating One's Way in the World

In the first years of life wonderful and dramatic things happen. Babies usually triple their birth weight; they move from being totally dependent to crawling or walking. They are soon able to communicate and to move around to explore the world from different spatial perspectives.

Milestones are flexible; they are approximate times when certain abilities are observable. There is no strict timetable for acquiring abilities or confronting different challenges, and there's a wide range for what's considered normal. Every child grows and adjusts to the world at his or her own pace. This article outlines the motor milestones that enable the child to become physically active in exploring the environment.

First Year Milestones

The newborn has little control of her movements; usually by one year she has learned how to get to where she wants by crawling, cruising or walking. Reflexive movements give way to purposeful movements. This new found mobility enables her to experience the world in new ways.

Between birth and 4 months the child

• develops control from head down; holds her head up for l0 or more seconds while held on parent's shoulder or lap

• reaches or swipes and grabs for toy

• sits steadily when held or seated supported by pillows or in a baby seat

• pushes up on arms while lying on her stomach, straightens her arms and lifts up her head and chest completely

• begins to hold a hand away from her body, which is a major neurological achievement in the process of building what's referred to as a proprioceptive map, or a sense of the body in space. (Proprioception is one of the senses that, like hearing, sight or smell, enables a child to explore physical relationships in the world. A proprioceptive sense underlies the ability to extend an arm to catch a ball or climb stairs without looking at the steps below)

Between 5-8 months the child

• moves purposefully to things she wants; she may be a roller, tummy crawler, scooter or have another unique way of getting around

• begins to use her hands by passing things from one hand to the other without dropping them

• pulls self to standing by holding on to an adult's fingers, furniture or other object

• picks up small toys or food with fingertips

• uses the pads of her fingers and thumb, rather than her whole hand or palms

• makes walking motion when held; walks forward, bearing weight on alternating feel when held by the hand or under the arms

By 9-12 months the child

• creeps or crawls up two or more steps

• walks, holding on to furniture or cruising along furniture holding on for support and balance

• picks up and puts down small toys intentionally

• stands alone; intentionally lets go of support and stands for a few seconds unsupported

• sits down from standing position