Pediatric Physical Therapy Screening

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear. – Mark Twain

A Guide to Developmental Gross Motor Skills Milestones

Below are both standard developmental gross motor skills milestones and signs you can look for to determine if your child might need physical therapy. Children develop at different rates, which is why these are general milestones and the overall health and well-being of a child should always be taken into consideration.

Birth to 3 Months

Birth to 3 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Lifts head, holds head up
  • Pushes up on arms while on belly
  • Brings hands to mouth
  • Moves arms and legs off of surface when excited
Screening Signs

  • Cannot hold head up
  • Does not try to push up while on belly
  • Doesn’t bring hands to mouth

If your child is between birth to 3 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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4 to 6 Months

4 to 6 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Begins to supports self with hands while sitting
  • Rocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backwards
  • Rolls from belly to back and back to belly
  • Accepts entire body weight on legs while being supported standing
Screening Signs

  • Doesn’t roll in either direction
  • Seems very stiff or has tightened muscles
  • Seems floppy, with poor muscle tone
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 4 to 6 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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7 to 9 Months

7 to 9 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Sits without support
  • Moves from belly or back to sitting
  • Picks up head and pushes through elbows while on belly
  • Pulls up to stand
  • Starts to crawl
Screening Signs

  • Does not bear weight on legs with support
  • Unable to sit without help
  • Does not scoot or crawl
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 7 to 9 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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10 to 12 Months

10 to 12 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Pulls to stand and walks along furniture
  • Stands alone and takes several independent steps
  • May start to walk independently
  • Changes positions to explore and get toys
  • Sits without support and can turn head to look at objects without losing balance
  • Looks around while body is in movement
Screening Signs

  • Cannot sit without support
  • Cannot stand when supported
  • Doesn’t crawl
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 10 to 12 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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13 to 18 Months

13 to 18 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Able to walk independently
  • Squats to pick up toys
  • May walk up steps or run
  • Eats with a spoon, drinks with a cup
  • Pulls toys while walking
  • Moves to music
  • Able to help get dressed and undressed
  • Able to sit in child size chair without help
Screening Signs

  • Cannot walk
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 13 to 18 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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19 to 24 Months

19 to 24 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Tries to stand on tip-toes
  • Kicks a ball
  • Tries or is able to run
  • Climbs on and off furniture without help
  • Able to walk up and down stairs holding hand or rail
  • Tries throwing a ball or toy overhand
  • Makes or copies straight lines or circles
Screening Signs

  • Doesn’t walk steadily
  • Doesn’t know what to do with familiar objects
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 19 to 24 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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2 to 3 Years

2 to 3 Years
Developmental Milestones

  • Able to climb well
  • Easily runs
  • Able to or tries to pedal a tricycle
  • Able to walk up and down stairs with one foot on each step
Screening Signs

  • Falls down a lot
  • Has difficulty on stairs
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 2 to 3 years of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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3 to 4 Years

3 to 4 Years
Developmental Milestones

  • Hops and stands on one foot up to 2 seconds
  • Catches a bounced ball most of the time
  • Pours, cuts with supervision, and mashes own food
Screening Signs

  • Cannot hop or jump in place
  • Resists dressing, sleeping, or using toilet
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 3 to 4 years of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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4 to 5 Years

4 to 5 Years
Developmental Milestones

  • Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
  • Hops; may be able to skip
  • Can do a somersault
  • Uses a fork and spoon and sometimes a table knife
  • Can use the toilet on his/her own
  • Swings and climbs
Screening Signs

  • Unusually inactive
  • Doesn’t use utensils to eat
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 4 to 5 years of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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