Gross Motor Development

Gross motor skills are the abilities usually acquired during infancy and early childhood as part of a child's motor development. By the time they reach two years of age, almost all children are able to stand up, walk and run, walk up stairs, etc. These skills are built upon, improved and better controlled throughout early childhood, and continue in refinement throughout most of the individual's years of development into adulthood.

Gross motor skills are completed by using the larger muscles in the body to roll, sit up, crawl, walk, run, jump, leap, hop, skip and more. Regular participation in these types of physical activities has been associated with improved with improvements in attention, memory as well as academic performance and school functioning.

Thrive has dedicated areas and equipment in their centers for the OT's to have ample access to work on gross motor skills.