Red Flags in Gross Motor development from 0-5 years old

Red Flags in Gross Motor development from 0-5 years

Development of gross motor skills in children follows a similar pattern. For instance, a child should be able to roll by 6 months and walk independently by 18 months. If parents notice that their child is still not reaching the appropriate milestone, it is a warning sign, or red flag, and the child should be brought to medical attention. The delay in milestone may signify something ominous and bringing the child to medical attention early ensures no child gets left behind.

Early intervention for children is essential once a condition is suspected or diagnosed. The child’s brain is still developing hence it is the best time to teach a skill or to change a behavior. Late diagnosis or parents’ denial in a condition may result in late intervention, which will prevent the child from reaching his/her maximum potential due to a smaller window to teach skills or create changes.

The table below shows the red flags, or warning signs of delayed gross motor development, with reference to the Queensland Government Early Intervention Referral Guide for Children 0-5 Years. If your child shows any signs of delayed stated in the table, it is highly recommended to bring your child to medical attention or to paediatric physiotherapist where a full gross motor developmental assessment can be carry out.

Age	Red Flags	Red Flags at any age
6 months	Not rolling Not holding head and shoulders up when on their tummy	Not achieving indicated developmental milestones Strong parental concerns Significant loss of skills Lack of response to sound or visual stimuli Poor interaction with adults or other children Difference between right and left sides of body in strength, movement or tone Loose and floppy movements (low tone) or stiff and tense (high tone)
9 months	Not sitting without support Not moving eg creeping or crawling motion Does not take weight well on legs when held by an adult
12 months	Not crawling or bottom shuffling Not pulling to stand Not standing holding on to furniture
18 months	Not attempting to walk without support Not standing alone
2 years	Unable to run Unable to use stair holding on Unable to throw a ball
3 years	Not running well Cannot walk up and down stairs Cannot kick a ball Cannot jump with 2 feet together
4 years	Cannot pedal a tricycle Cannot catch, throw or kick a ball Cannot balance well standing on 1 leg
5 years	Awkward when walking, running, climbing stairs Ball skills are very different from peers Unable to hop 5 times on each foot

Disclaimer: The information and advice contained in or made available through this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the services of a health professional or to be a substitute for medical advice of physicians.

Reference:

1. Queensland Health,  Queensland Government Early Intervention Referral Guide for Children 0-5 Years, http://www.health.qld.gov.au