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Age at Which Most Children Perform Locomotor Skills

By J. Hendrick|P. Weissman
Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall

It is generally agreed that children progress through a predictable sequence of physical developmental stages (Gallahue & Ozmun, 2001; Shelov & Hannemann, 2004). The examples provided in the below table illustrate this clearly.

By the end of the 1st year, the child: By the end of the 2nd year, the child: By the end of the 3rd year, the child: By the end of the 4th year, the child: By the end of the 5th year, the child:
  • Reaches sitting position by himself
  • Crawls forward on his stomach
  • Pushes up into hands-and-knees position
  • Creeps on hands and knees or crawls
  • Pulls himself up to standing, may stand alone for a short time
  • Walks while holding onto something, may take a few steps alone
  • Walks independently
  • Climbs stairs (sometimes needs support)
  • Enjoys climbing structures (and climbing on furniture)
  • Carries objects while walking
  • Trots and runs
  • Stands on toes
  • Throws, kicks a ball
  • Climbs well
  • Walks up and down stairs using a rail
  • Jumps off steps or structures
  • Throws, kicks a ball
  • Runs easily
  • Pedals a tricycle
  • Bends over without falling
  • Engages in physical play with full energy, then gets tired, sometimes cranky
  • Hops and stands on one foot up to 5 seconds
  • Goes upstairs and downstairs independently and alternating feet
  • Kicks ball forward
  • Throws ball overhand
  • Catches a bounced ball
  • Jumps rope
  • Moves forward and backward easily
  • Balances on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
  • Walks backward
  • Hops
  • Jumps rope
  • Somersaults
  • Swings
  • Climbs
  • Rides a bike
  • Swims
  • Skips
  • Usually is independent in toileting
  • Has a high level of physical energy

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