Gross motor development is often the first noticeable sign of developmental delay in infants and young children. Child development is easily observed in the progression of milestones. Some important milestones for infants include the ability to roll over, sit up, crawl, stand, cruise furniture and walk unassisted. In early childhood, gross motor developmental milestones may be measured by a young child's ability to walk a straight line, skip, hop on one foot and jump.
Types
There are four areas or types of early childhood development that should be monitored closely: Gross motor, fine motor, intellectual or cognitive, and psycho-social development. According to "Keep Kids Healthy," early gross motor development begins with the head and works its way down. In essence, gross motor milestones are sequential accomplishments, each building on the next. However, occasionally, an infant will walk without crawling; the usual progression is to crawl before walking.
Significance
In assessing for developmental delay, one must look at all areas of child development, not just gross motor skills, as some gross motor developmental differences between infants and young children are expected. However, if for example, a young child is delayed in walking, and also appears to avoid eye contact with close family members, or is delayed in the area of vocalization or language, that may be cause for concern, regardless of age.
Misconceptions
Developmental delay in gross motor development does not automatically mean that the young child is delayed intellectually. Sometimes there are specific reasons for delayed, or decreased, motor skills. Sometimes, an infant experiences gross motor delays due to a medical condition, such as club foot, or hip displacement; or an inherent disability such as cerebral palsy, from a traumatic delivery at birth. In this case, it is important to seek prompt medical attention from an experienced pediatrician.
Considerations
According to Rita Snell, MA, RPT, "Gross motor development is an important area to develop in your infant, as it will allow him the opportunity to be mobile, and interact with his surroundings." It is possible for gross motor delay to cause some delay in other areas, as well, as infants and young children need to explore their surroundings to learn. This exploration is dependent on their ability to navigate the environment in search of new, and stimulating, learning experiences.
Prevention/Solution
Occasionally, delays in gross motor skills go unnoticed until a child is ready to start school. In this case, it is essential to consult a pediatrician for a full evaluation to assess all areas of growth and development, including fine and gross motor, cognitive and, especially, psycho-social development. School-age children that have not been previously treated for gross motor delays are likely to have developmental delays in other areas, as well.
