Development of gross motor skills in 30- to 36-month-olds. Follow your child’s milestones step by step.
Gross motor skill development allows children to improve their balance and coordination and use their large muscles. These abilities helped your little one master certain movements, such as sitting, creeping, crawling, and walking, and will help them learn to run, climb, jump, and more. Developing gross motor skills is also an important step towards developing fine motor skills.
Gross motor skill development: 2½ to 3 years old
At this age:
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Your child can participate in group activities that require them to run, jump, crawl, roll, and spin around.
Remember that not all children develop the same skills at the same speed. The material on this website is for general information purposes only. In addition, the milestone ages given may vary from source to source. If you’re concerned about your child’s development, speak with a doctor.
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They walk heel-to-toe, meaning their heel touches the ground before the front of the foot.
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They can balance on one foot for about 3 seconds.
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Your toddler can walk at least four steps on narrow surfaces (20 cm or so).
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They can slow down when running or going downhill.
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Your toddler is getting better and better at climbing ladders on slides and other play structures.
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They go up stairs (using the wall or handrail for support) by placing one foot on each step. They still go down stairs by placing both feet on each step.
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Your child can jump over a rope laid out on the ground (one foot after the other or both feet together).
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They can catch a large ball thrown gently towards them by using their whole body.
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They can jump down from small heights (e.g., curbs).
Over the next few months, your child will begin to do the following:
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Take a few steps on an increasingly narrow surface (from 20 cm wide to 10 cm wide)
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Pedal on a tricycle
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Kick a ball with increasing precision
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Throw a ball over handed
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Participate in circle games like duck-duck-goose
Learn how you can support your child’s gross motor skill development through books. (in French)
How can you help your child progress?
Every child is different and develops at their own pace. That said, you can help foster your child’s development by adopting the Comfort, Play, and Teach parenting approach, which can easily be integrated into your daily routine. The table below shows simple, ageappropriate ways to help your child develop their gross motor skills.
Comfort
When you encourage your child to try new things, such as chasing and catching bubbles, | | they become more confident in their physical abilities and more open to new activities. |
When you count out loud the number of steps your child is able to climb independently and praise their achievement, | | they know that you see their efforts, which boosts their self-esteem. If they can’t quite make it to the top, they’ll want to keep trying. |
When you encourage your toddler to throw or kick a ball at a large target or into a large box with an opening on the side, | | they are proud of themself every time they succeed. |
Teach
When you do physical activities with your child, like rolling downhill or playing tag, | | they enjoy having fun with you and learn that exercise is fun. |
When you give your toddler a few colourful scarves to hold while dancing and moving to music, | | they start to explore different gestures and let the music inspire their moves. |
When you pretend to be a fire fighter, bus driver, or guitar player, and ask your child to imitate you, | | they learn different movements by watching you. They also strengthen their motor planning skills by trying to replicate what they see. |
Play
When you show your little one pictures of animals that crawl (snakes, earthworms, etc.) and say: “Show me how you move like a snake,” | | they show that they understand what their body can do by imitating the movements of the animal. They also improve their posture by moving on the ground. |
When you talk to your child about safety rules and explain how to use play equipment with caution, | | they learn to take their time and to take calculated risks when playing at the park. |
When you set up a simple obstacle course using cushions, boxes, and chairs, | | your toddler gets to practise moving around, over, and under objects and weaving in and out of them. |
| Scientific review: Josiane Caron Santha, occupational therapist
Research and copywriting:The Naître et grandir team
Updated: November 2025
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Photo: GettyImages/Renata Angerami
Resources and references
Note: The links to other websites are not updated regularly, and some URLs may have changed since publication. If a link is no longer valid, please use search engines to find the relevant information.
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Beery, Keith E., et al. Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration. 6th ed., Pearson. 2010.
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Caron Santha, Josiane, and Solène Bourque. Bouger pour grandir : comprendre et favoriser le développement moteur des enfants (0–8 ans). Éditions Midi trente, 2023, 160 pp.
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Caron Santha, Josiane. Video: “12 marches des animaux pour développer la posture (par une ergothérapeute).” YouTube. youtube.com
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Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development. Physical Activity in Early Childhood: Setting the Stage for Lifelong Healthy Habits. 2011. child-encyclopedia.com
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Ferland, Francine. Le développement de l’enfant au quotidien : de 0 à 6 ans. 2nd ed., Éditions du CHU Sainte-Justine, 2018, 264 pp.
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Ferland, Francine. Viens jouer dehors! Pour le plaisir et la santé. Éditions du CHU Sainte-Justine, 2012, 122 pp.
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Pathways. “Motor.” pathways.org
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Canadian Paediatric Society. “Your child’s development: What to expect.” Caring for Kids. 2019. caringforkids.cps.ca
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