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The United Nations Children's Fund shares why learning through play builds lifelong learners and supports the child's overall development.

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In this article, Lisa Flook focuses on the whole-child approach to ensure all learning aspects are met. She divides her approach into the science of children's development and learning. As you read this article reflect on what aspect you take to ensure you reach the whole child.

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Currently, our education system often focuses on a narrow sliver of children's cognitive development with an emphasis on transmitting content knowledge, often to be memorized and repeated in the same form it was received. Lessons in math, science, and reading-and tests in those skills-dominate the curriculum.

While those subjects are fundamental, learning involves far more than merely acquiring inert knowledge in algebra or chemistry. Such a narrow focus gives short shrift to the ways that children need to grow and learn in their relationships, identity, emotional understanding, and overall well-being. After all, children are multi-dimensional "whole" beings whose development is complex and rich.

Recent research in neuroscience, developmental and learning sciences, education, sociology, and many other fields confirms that a "whole child" approach is not only desirable but necessary to ensure that children learn well. According to two comprehensive reviews of the science on children's development and learning:

Brain development is shaped by consistent, supportive relationships; responsive communications; and modeling of productive behaviors. The brain's capacity develops most fully when children and youth feel emotionally and physically safe; and when they feel connected, engaged, and challenged.

Learning is social, emotional, and academic. Positive relationships, including trust in the teacher, and positive emotions, such as interest and excitement, open up the mind to learning. Negative emotions, such as fear of failure, anxiety, and self-doubt, reduce the capacity of the brain to process information and learn. Children can build skills and awareness to work with emotions in themselves and their relationships.

Adversity-poverty, housing and food insecurity, abuse, or neglect-produces toxic stress that affects learning and behavior, but how schools respond matters. Positive, stable relationships-when adults have the awareness, empathy, and cultural competence to understand and listen to children-can buffer the effects of even serious adversity.

At the Learning Policy Institute, as part of a new initiative on the Science of Learning and Development, we synthesized these scientific findings to identify how schools can best promote child development. We identified four main ingredients of school success that allow us to care for and nurture the potential in all children: a positive school climate, productive instructional strategies, social-emotional development, and individualized supports. Here's what we've learned so far about why these ingredients are meaningful and how to put them into action.

1. Foster a supportive environment that promotes strong relationships among staff, students, and families

In a recent national survey, only 30 percent of high school students rated their school culture positively. Many schools today are based on antiquated designs from the early 1900s that emulate the factory model, wherein students cycle through classrooms and teachers see hundreds of students a day. These structures depersonalize learning at a time when students need and would benefit from long-term relationships with teachers and peers.

Creating a positive school climate based on strong relationships provides a bedrock for learning. Students need to feel a sense of safety and belonging in order to thrive in school. Some elements that promote a sense of community and allow teachers to know their students well include:

Smaller school and class sizes.

Looping, where teachers stay with the same students for more than one year.

Advisory classes that provide students with a community and allow teachers to check in with students and parents on a consistent basis.

Staff who practice cultural competence, inviting students' experiences into the classroom and communicating that all students are valued.

Home visits and regular parent-teacher-student conferences to strengthen connections between school and home.

Opportunities for staff collaboration and leadership that strengthen trust among educators.

For example, one way to help students feel that they belong is to engage students in developing their own shared classroom norms that are posted and regularly referred to, and to assign classroom tasks so that each student is involved in supporting the community. Teachers can also aim to convey high expectations and provide adequate supports for all students, sending the message that they're capable. This is especially important for students who have received mixed or discouraging messages about their ability from adults in the past, whether due to explicit or implicit biases.

A variety of other practices can help build a sense of community. Community walks, in which students lead tours of the neighborhoods surrounding their school, can help build cultural competence among educators as they learn more about students' lives outside of school. Planning meetings that include educators across subjects and departments, and professional development to support educators' own social-emotional competencies and well-being, can help educators collaborate and develop trust.

Overall, a positive school climate aims to foster deeper relationships among adults and students to promote a sense of safety and belonging, which are conducive to learning.

2. Implement meaningful, engaging instructional practices that develop students' ability to manage their own learning

In focus groups and interviews with students who had dropped out of high school in 25 urban, suburban, and rural communities, nearly half (47 percent) said a major reason for dropping out was that classrooms were not interesting. These young people reported being bored and disengaged from high school. Even among those who stayed in school, 81 percent said that there should be more opportunities for real-world learning.

Students crave opportunities to learn things that matter and are relevant to their lives. Instruction helps students grow in their understanding when it builds on students' prior experience and scaffolds learning by meeting them where they're at. For example, teachers can connect lessons in mathematics to common tasks students are engaged in that use those skills, such as in cooking, artwork, sports, and other settings. Or they can connect a history unit on the Civil Rights movement to modern-day issues like the racially motivated attacks in Charlottesville and police brutality against people of color.

When skillfully combined with direct instruction, inquiry-based learning that is driven by students' interests boosts their motivation and develops real-world skills. In one middle school class in Oakland, for example, students decided to study how environmental pollution affects the ocean and then designed a campaign to reduce waste and litter and increase recycling at their school. These projects teach valuable skills of collaboration, problem solving, and organization, and have a tangible impact.

Assessments that include feedback and opportunities to revise work help students learn how to learn and encourage an intrinsic desire to understand the material and challenge themselves, beyond just making the grade. This type of "mastery-oriented approach" is associated with more meaningful learning. For example, some schools cultivate student inquiry and revision skills through capstone projects -yearlong research projects-that give students an opportunity to learn deeply about an issue that matters to them and, often, work to create change in their own community. These projects are usually revised to meet a high standard of inquiry and presented to panels of educators and other adults from outside the school, like a dissertation defense.

Students' control over their own education is also supported by practices like student-led conferences, which allow students to regularly share their work with parents and teachers and reflect on their learning and goals.

Far from being boring, effective instructional strategies connect learning to students' lives, and empower them to use their knowledge for their own and others' benefit.

3. Develop habits, skills, and mindsets that build students' social, emotional, and academic competence

Students in the U.S. report feeling stressed at school 80 percent of the time. When students are overwhelmed, they are more likely to act out and have difficulty adjusting at school. Indeed, children in U.S. public schools lost more than 11 million instructional days due to suspensions in a single school year.

Developing students' social-emotional skills teaches them how to manage stress, while also boosting social skills like collaboration and empathy. In this way, social-emotional skills involve developing greater awareness of oneself and others. Many schools teach these skills explicitly through programs of social-emotional learning, which have been found to improve students' achievement, as well as their feelings of safety and belonging at school.

In addition, to reduce suspensions and other punitive discipline in schools, schools are using restorative practices-like " circles" and peer mediation-which teach students to take responsibility and repair harm done in their relationships. A restorative approach is grounded in students recognizing and valuing their role and responsibilities within the community. Ultimately, restorative practices serve to build individual skills and cultivate a stronger community while also boosting student achievement and graduation rates.

4. Create an integrated system of school supports that includes extended learning opportunities and community partnerships

Not all children have the material and social capital that affords access to high-quality learning environments and experiences. For example, high-income parents increased their spending on " enrichment activities " for their children, like tutoring and extracurricular activities, by 151 percent over the past several decades, compared to 57 percent for low-income parents. These differentials augment the achievement gap between affluent and low-income students.

Additional supports are also needed for the growing number of children who experience adversity in the form of poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, learning obstacles, or lack of health care. Schools need a flexible system of supports to address these needs.

The community schools model is one in which public schools partner with families and community organizations to provide well-rounded educational opportunities and supports for students' school success. It typically includes before- and after-school enrichment, such as mentoring and academic support, as well as summer learning opportunities, like workshops on film and art, sports camps, and long-distance trips to visit college campuses. Some schools partner with local organizations and university staff to offer immersion experiences where students learn from professionals through internships or workshops on topics of interest, like technology, film, and art.

In addition, through partnerships with community organizations, schools offer health, mental health, and social services to help students overcome barriers to learning. A social worker or community liaison typically coordinates these services. Some schools partner with university programs, as well as health and mental health providers, to bring trainees (like psychology students) into the school as support staff.

These kinds of support reflect a whole school approach to whole child development that maximizes opportunities for all children to succeed.

Combined, these four ingredients are essential parts of a comprehensive framework that, in practice, build on and reinforce each other. A wealth of research demonstrates that successful education cannot happen in a piecemeal fashion. Taking an integrated approach can help children, with all their complexity and humanity, to develop to their full potential.

Greater Good wants to know: Do you think this article will influence your opinions or behavior?

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Four Ways Schools Can Support the Whole Child

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Beyond just teaching academics, schools can foster students' development in their relationships, identity, emotional skills, and overall well-being.

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The article discusses ten ways parents/guardians can help their children cope with the stress of change.

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Change. One of the many things in life that is inevitable. We as adults have learned this through time and experience.

Trying to cope with change can be hard on anyone of any age. But it can be especially hard on little ones.

Big life changes such as a move, divorce, starting school, or any significant change in daily routines can set off a cornucopia of reactions.

I know from personal experience how hard it is on a child and parent alike to cope with change. This past summer was a summer of change for our family. My three year old daughter took to the new changes with open arms, yet my five year old son did not.

My husband had recently landed a new job a few states away and would be gone on business for three weeks at a time. As a result, we decided I should quit my full time job to become a stay at home mom.

Awesome, right?

Well...not at first.

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My children now no longer went to the sitter they had been with for the past two years and my son was out of pre-school for the summer. I thought for sure things would feel like a storybook and that we would all be happy as clams. Boy was I wrong.

Unbeknownst to me, these changes would set off a whole host of behavioral problems with my son who became angry and aggressive. There always seemed to be an issue with anything and everything.

Previously, he had always been a happy morning person who was quick to laugh and play. But now, my son was grumpy and refused to talk to anyone for hours after waking up. He would scream and yell at his sister and myself multiple times a day. I began to feel frustrated, confused, and, at times, a bit worried.

What was going on with my son? He had always been strong willed but he'd never behaved quite like this.

It took a few weeks, but before long I realized the root of our problems. My sweet boy was experiencing stress from all of the changes in his life.

My first instinct was to brush it off. What five year old WOULDN'T want their mom at home with them all day? Sure his dad was gone for weeks at a time, but I was there to make up for it...right?

Wrong. There were just too many new experiences going on for him. I had to figure out some way to ease him into our new lifestyle.

I began researching and reading on how to help him cope with change.

After many nights of looking online, reading articles, and a bit of trial and error, I discovered a few ways to make him feel more secure.

Here is a list of 10 ways I helped my child cope with the stress of change:

1. Talk

Seems simple enough right? But all too often we as parents forget that our children need us to talk to them about what's going on in their lives.

It is important not to ignore the changes and expect your child to figure things out on his or her own. Acknowledge all of your child's new changes.

Let them know you realize how hard it can be to get used to new things. Give them a few examples of how you felt during changes in your younger years. Kids love listening to stories about when their parents were little.

2. Listen

When your child is ready to talk (this may take time for some children), be sure to give them your ear. Letting them know you are there for them can make them feel more secure in their feelings.

It took a little while for my son to begin talking to me about his dad being gone so often. Most of the talking seemed to be done by me at first. However, after my son saw that I was open to talk about my own feelings, he began to open up. I made it a point to always make eye contact and truly show him I was interested in what he had to say.

And you know what? I could always tell that he felt a little better after I gave him my gentle and undivided attention.

According to Sagari Gongala in 13 Tips to Understand Your Child's Psychology Better, "Not only should you listen, but also let your child know that they are being heard and taken seriously." It is just not enough to listen while folding clothes or cooking dinner... you need to truly be present and focused on what they have to say.

3. Offer choices

Sometimes, children exhibit negative behavior during new changes because they feel out of control. They are used to one routine and now may not know what to expect from day to day.

Offer them choices throughout the day and give them two options.

Which one of these books would you like to read? Which one of these outfits would you like to wear today? Would you like to go to the park or the library this afternoon? Would you like to color or make a craft this morning?

Letting them make some of their own choices, within reason, can be a huge help towards coping. According to Marianna Pogosyan, Ph.D. in Helping Children Through Transitions, "Whether it's big ones (e.g. which school to attend) or small ones (e.g. what pair of pants they wear), having them participate in decision-making will help them feel like not everything is out of their control and thus, help to boost their confidence."

Even we as adults can start to feel anxious and frustrated when we don't know what to expect. Or when someone else is making all of our decisions for us.

When I began offering my son more small choices during the day, he seemed to hold his head a little higher. I could tell that he enjoyed being able to have a say in some of the daily events.

4. Let Them Be Upset

We all have emotions in response to change and children are no different. For most of us, there has been at least one time in our lives where we felt the need to have a good cry. Little ones need to be able to express their emotions just like adults do.

If your child is suddenly crying about something that seems silly to you, try not to scold or belittle them. This is one way for them to get their frustrations out about their current changes.

One time in particular sticks in my memory. I had put a roast in the crock pot and let it cook all day. I was extremely excited to finally taste it and so was my daughter.

I fixed our plates, set them on the table, and called me son over for dinner. He sat down and gave the meal a disgusted scrunch of the nose and flipped the plate over. I was mortified and, to be honest, a little hurt. Before I could even say anything he began to yell that it was "gross" and then began to cry.

At this point I was really steaming with anger. I mean, he was right there when I added the ingredients to the crock pot and even nodded his head when I asked if he was excited to eat it later on. He had always loved roast before...but now he was flipping over his plate and having a monster emotional meltdown?!

I clenched my teeth, took a deep breath, and tried to hold back my own tears. It was during my typical "count to 10" ritual that I remembered the article, Helping A Child Adjust to Two Households or Other Changes in Care by Janet Lansbury. She said:

"With young children, the feelings often don't show up blatantly and openly in an obvious way that's easier for us to understand. They're more likely to show up as testing behavior, unreasonable behavior, resistance, fragile emotions around a lot of things that don't seem to have anything to do with this transition they've made."

I realized he must be hurting about something else and not just my "gross" dinner. I walked over and hugged him while he clung to me. All my son truly needed at that moment was a good cry and for his mommy to be there for him.

5. Keep a Routine

While it may not be the same routine as before, try to keep it similar. Children thrive on routine because it makes their daily lives feel predictable. Children need that type of predictability to feel secure, happy, and healthy. Without structure, our children will feel a sense of chaos which only breeds more stress.

After I became a stay at home mom, I did not quite structure our household in the way that was best for our family. Some days I would let my children play the entire morning and afternoon until they seemed to get bored and only then would I intervene and offer new things to do. Each day seemed to bring more crankiness and more tantrums.

Before long, it dawned on me that their days had been structured both at the sitter and at my son's preschool. They (my son especially) were relying on me to give them some sort of predictability.

If I wanted our home to run smoothly, I had to create our own daily routine...and fast. I implemented many things that they were used to such as story time and craft time. Within about two weeks, my children knew what to expect and when. And I saw huge improvements in their behaviors!

6. Create New Rituals

Everyone likes to have something to look forward to. Whether it be going to the library on Tuesdays or movie night on Fridays, it's important to invite new daily or weekly ideas into your schedule.

After our new lifestyle had begun, one time of the day in particular was especially hard for my son. Bedtime.

Bedtime had long been a chance for my husband to lay with my son, talk for a bit, and say his nightly "good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite". When my husband began his new job and was no longer there each night, my son became restless and seemed to hate going to bed.

I tried to do the same ritual as his daddy but I could tell it just wasn't enough. So, I began our own new ritual of reading a book to him each night before bed. He again started to enjoy laying down to listen to his nightly story and while he still became restless on occasion, this special time for us seemed to make a world of difference.

Here are a few ideas of fun rituals that may help your child feel less stressed about change:

Even the smallest of rituals once a day, or even once a week, is sure to put a smile on your child's face and give them the stability they need.

7. Give Warning

Talk to your child about new changes ahead of time. It will be much easier for your child to process their new lifestyle if they are given ample explanation of upcoming changes. This is a great coping tip that you can find in just about any article pertaining to changes for children.

Even though your child cannot predict how they will feel during the new changes, it is important to plant the seed. Let your child know what will be changing and how it might affect your day to day life.

In this aspect, repetition is going to be key. It will not be enough to warn your child once, or possibly even twice, of the impending changes. Continue to remind them until said changes have taken place.

This is one thing I wish I would have taken into consideration before I quit my job and my husband took his new job. We talked to our children maybe one time about what was going to happen and figured that was sufficient enough. Looking back, I was being pretty dense in my thinking. But lesson learned for sure!

8. Focus on the Positive

Even if your family's new changes circle around negative situations, it is always important to look on the bright side for your child's sake. Oftentimes our children feed off of our emotions.

If you are constantly talking about the negative aspect of your new lifestyle, your child is going to do the same. To help ease their stress and anxiety, focus on the positive!

According to Marilyn Price-Mitchell, Ph.D. in Negativity and Your Child's Brain: How to Help Kids Stay Positive,

"When we speak negative thoughts, whether they are about illness, fear, worry, disapproval, or even a simple 'no,' additional stress chemicals are released. And this doesn't stop with our brains. The brains of those within earshot are changed too, causing anxiety and irritability in our listeners."

I will admit, there were times where I was not as positive as I should have been. Some nights I would catch myself saying out loud, "I really wish your daddy was here to help me!" It became pretty obvious that when I mentioned things like that, my son's stress level would rise and he would also begin talking about the negative aspects of our situation.

Though it can be hard at times, try your best to speak about your family's new changes in the most positive way possible.

9. Accept That Coping Takes Time

Everyone copes with new changes in their own time. It is important not to put a time limit on how long your child is to be upset or stressed.

Although it may be frustrating if your child seems to be upset for longer than you'd hoped, remember that they are an individual and need to process their feelings and emotions in a time frame that works for them.

10. Listen to Your Gut

We all have that parental instinct. If your gut is telling you that more is going on than the stress of your child's new routine, listen to it!

It is never a bad idea to make an appointment with a child therapist or child psychologist if you feel that your child's stress goes beyond your new changes.

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The 2-Minute Action Plan for Fine Parents

If your family is going through new changes, take a moment to reflect on these questions:

How much does my child know about this transition and the change that is coming?

How have I been helping my child through this transition so far?

Has my child been acting out since these new changes were implemented?

In my child's eyes, what might be the hardest part of our new routine?

How can I change my own attitude in a way that may help my child cope?

The Ongoing Action Plan for Fine Parents

Throughout the next week, take time to step back and assess your child's reactions to their new lifestyle. Remind them that you love them and are there for them. Even during times of tantrums and negative behavior, try to keep in mind that they may be reacting to the stresses of change.

Also, think about what new routines you can implement that will help create the stability they need in their new life situations. Do you need to have a schedule? Or will making sure you do something with them once a day be enough?

Our lives are always changing and presenting our families with new obstacles and transitions. Remember that even changes you may think are positive can still be tough for your little one. Be ready to help your child transition in the smoothest way possible.

And like they always say..."this too shall pass." You've got this!

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How to Help Your Child Cope With Change Positively - A Fine Parent

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Change. An inevitable fact of life. We as adults may be able to handle the uncertainty that comes with it. But how can we help our kids cope with change?

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Here are some helpful tips for those children who are having a hard time with changing and those who stride to change.

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Some children find changes hard, while others will take change in stride. We discuss tips for each child's unique temperament.

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This video discussed how children reacted to starting a new school for the first time. The children also gave helpful tips to other children so they could tackle this huddle if they had to create a new school.

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what is reaction to change education for kids - Google Search

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As we reflect on ourselves, we must ask ourselves if we need to change or grow within our personal development. If you find the question puzzle, then take a deep dive into this article to understand what choice will better fit you.

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Change vs Growth: Knowing Which You Need

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Explore the key differences between change vs growth and discover which one you need in your personal and professional life.

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The video helps children understand that everything will not come easy and we must work at it to accomplish the goal.

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what is growth vs change for preschool students video - Google Search

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This video helps children understand how things grow and change over time.

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what is growth vs change for preschool students video - Google Search

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Try YouTube Kids · Sci-Bono Education · NUMBERS, OPERATIONS, RELATIONSHIPS COUNTING · Learning Shapes, Counting & Math for Kids | Toddler Learning…

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The Children's Hospital of Orange County discusses the Child Development Guide of Ages and Stages. This guide helps parents/guardians understand their child's developmental process milestones.

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Child Development: Milestones, Ages and Stages - Children’s Hospital of Orange County

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Understanding your child’s growth and development stages and milestones is an important part of parenting. Use this guide from CHOC to follow along with your child’s milestones.

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This video discusses how brain matter works and children's chances as they carry out their future.

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Brain Matters documentary | Early Childhood Development

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Cait Parr, P, DPT, discusses the importance of gross motor skill development and shares gross motor skills examples by age. This blog should help parents/guardians understand what skills to consider as their child grows and develops.

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Cait Parr, PT, DPT

You've probably heard your therapist, your pediatrician, or your friend who's a parent talk about gross motor skills. But what are they, and why are they important? Babies learn so much through movement, and gross motor skills are a major aspect of their overall development. Movement is important to all of us, but especially to our developing little ones. In this blog, we'll discuss the importance of gross motor skill development and share gross motor skills examples by age.

Jump Ahead for Gross Motor Skills Examples:

Gross motor skills are the abilities required to control the muscles of the body for large movements such as crawling, walking, jumping, running, and more. They also include higher level skills such as climbing, skipping, and throwing and catching a ball.

Motor Skills and Motor Development

What are motor skills and how do they develop? Babies learn from head to toe. Our upper body muscle control develops before our lower body muscle control. As babies grow, they first develop control in their neck (head control) and trunk (sitting balance) and then they learn to control their shoulders, then elbows, wrists, and finally, their fingers. The same goes for the lower body, starting at the hips first, then learning to control their legs, feet, and eventually toes.

Fine vs. Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor development involves the large muscle groups of the arms, legs and trunk, whereas fine motor skills involve small muscles of the body, typically thought of as the movements that involve the fingers and the hands.

Importance of Gross Motor Skills

In the area of gross motor development, we know that often times, rolling leads to crawling, and crawling leads to walking. We start with foundational skills and work through a developmental progression.

Gross motor skill development helps children to build strength and confidence in their bodies. Kids also enjoy the same benefits of exercise and physical activity as adults do, which is important for a healthy lifestyle, no matter your age.  Developing gross motor skills helps a child grow in the ability to do more complex skills, such as navigating a new playground environment or playing a team sport.

As kids gain control of their body, they start to build up strength. Little ones need lots of opportunities to practice movement, because that's how they learn and grow!

3 Different Types of Gross Motor Movements:

Anything a child does to get from one spot to another is locomotion. Examples of gross motor skills in the locomotion category can include rolling, belly crawling, crawling on hands and knees, scooting, walking, running, climbing, leaping, jumping, and hopping.

2. Stationary skills,  which refers to movement in a stationary place.

Gross motor skills that are stationary include head control, sitting balance, standing on one or both legs, rising, falling, bending, stretching, pushing, pulling, swinging, swaying, twisting, and turning.

3. Manipulation, which means moving objects in a variety of ways.

Think about all the things a child can do with a ball - they can roll, throw, catch, kick, stop, or bat a ball. All of these actions are manipulative gross motor skills.

We typically see a range of development for each gross motor milestone, where kids may develop that skill in the few months before or after their peers. If you notice your child continuing to struggle with development of an age-appropriate gross motor milestone, please see your pediatrician to request a PT evaluation. Listed below are examples of gross motor skills by age.

Gross Motor Skills Examples

Generally, gross motor development milestones for infants and toddlers are as follows:

Newborn to 2 months:

Head lag with pull to sit

Lifts head and able to turn to both sides while on belly (View our guide for mastering tummy time!)

Kicks both legs and moves both arms equally while on back

Turns head to both sides while on back

Raises head in line with trunk when pulled to sit

Pushes up on forearms and turns head side to side while on belly

Rolls from belly to back  (Use these 3 tips to help teach your baby to roll over!)

Crawls on hands and knees

Cruises around furniture

Moves between laying down and sitting upright without help

Pulls to a standing position with one foot leading

Walks with two hands held

11-12 months:

Walks with one hand held

Stands independently for a few seconds

13-14 months:

Crawls up stairs

Stands up from the floor without support

Walks independently: Yes, walking is a gross motor skill! (Peek at our tricks used to help children who are on the verge of independent walking!)

Squats and stands back up without support

15-18 months:

Walks up stairs with hands or rails to help

Crawls down stairs on belly, feet first

Kicks a ball forward

Gross Motor Skills for 2-Year-Old's and Up Develop as Follows:

Gross Motor Skills for 2 Year Olds:

In addition to the skills listed above, gross motor skills for 2 year olds include:

Gross Motor Skills for 3 Year Olds:

Examples of gross motor skills for 3 year olds include:

Gross Motor Skills by 4 Years Old:

Gross Motor Skills by 5 Years Old:

Skips and jumps rope

Starts to skate and swim

Rides bicycle with or without training wheels

Again, each child develops at their own pace, so these gross motor milestones are approximate. As gross motor development happens at these approximate ages and stages, they build upon each other. For example, a baby needs to be able to pull up to standing before they can walk.

Gross Motor Delay

When a child's gross motor development is delayed, pediatric physical therapy is often prescribed to help a child work towards gaining gross motor skills.

A physical therapist works on an array of foundational skills to help a child maximize his or her gross motor potential including:

Balance

Muscular Strength and Endurance

Motor Learning and Planning

Body Awareness

Sensory Processing

Coordination

Postural Control

Muscle Tone (Addressing low muscle tone or high muscle tone)

Crossing the Mid-Line (moving arms or legs across the middle of the body to perform a task)

Find Additional Resources in the NAPA Blog:

About the Author

Cait Parr is a pediatric physical therapist at NAPA Center. Her favorite animal is snails, because they remind her to slow down and enjoy the beautiful details about life. She loves desserts almost as much as she loves long walks on the beach with her husband.

About NAPA Center

At NAPA Center, we take an individualized approach to therapy because we understand that each child is unique with very specific needs. If your child needs our services, we will work closely with you to select the best therapies for them, creating a customized program specific to your child's needs and your family's goals. If you're interested in learning more, send us a contact form and our team will be in touch shortly!
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Gross Motor Development: List of Skills by Age | NAPA Center

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Pediatric physical therapist shares list of gross motor skills for toddlers, infants, 2 year olds - age 5. Includes tips for parents!

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Linda B Smith discussed how adults can view the world in their child's eye. Smith explains how infants break into their language by focusing on the connection between object recognition and linguistic learning in children between 3 weeks and 24 months. Her purpose is to help adults find ways to build the relationship between an infant's brain and body.

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Perception and Play: How Children View the World

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The interactions among children's brains, bodies, and surrounding environments have tremendous effects on how they learn to speak and identify specific items in their field of view. APS Fellow Linda B. Smith shares her groundbreaking methods for examining these processes.

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A child's body changes rapidly and develops those milestones to help them achieve their growth. Children reach different developmental milestones based on their age. As a child approaches their 5th Birthday, you may need to use the developmental evaluation to ensure everything is developing. Here is a grown and developmental article to check your understanding.

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©2023 Riley Hospital for Children at
Indiana University Health
Find adult services atiuhealth.org

©2023 Riley Hospital for Children at
Indiana University Health
Find adult services atiuhealth.org

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Learn about key development topics for children ages 3 to 5, including milestones, language development and emotional development, as well as safety, sleep and diet tips.

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This video helps children understand different perspectives and that there are many ways to see the world and no wrong or right.

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This an interactive video for kids on how to change their mindset when they fell like everything is going wrong.

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Growth Mindset For Kids - 3 Steps To Help Kids With Mindset | Choices &  Self-Awareness For Kids

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Nobody likes change, and starting something new can be challenging. PBS Kids gives parents and children helpful tips for creating something new.

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Helping Kids Handle Change at School | Parenting Tips & Advice

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Here's the thing about change: it's inherently stressful. So how do we help them handle changes at school? Here are three steps to do as a family to help with changes or new things at school.