Definition: Gross motor skills are physical abilities involving large muscle groups and whole-body movements, including sitting, standing, walking, running, jumping, climbing, throwing, catching, and balancing.
Why Gross Motor Skills Matter in Childcare
Children need opportunities to move their bodies in safe and developmentally appropriate ways. Indoor and outdoor active play can provide practice with balance, coordination, body awareness, strength, and movement planning.
Example in a Childcare Setting
Children move through an age-appropriate obstacle course by stepping over low objects, crawling through a tunnel, walking along a balance path, and tossing a ball toward a target.
Related Terms
Fine motor skills, physical development, motor development, active play, developmental milestones, and coordination.
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