As kids grow, their movements become more agile. Follow your child’s gross motor skill development from age 7 to 8.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, walking, running, climbing, jumping, and more. Developing gross motor skills is also an important step towards developing fine motor skills.
Gross motor skill development: 7 to 8 years old
At this age:
- Your child has better motor coordination and flexibility.
- They move efficiently when running, changing direction and speed as needed while playing sports or on uneven surfaces, just like an adult.
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They can play with a ball by throwing, kicking, and dribbling it. They can throw with force and precision in various sports (basketball, dodgeball, soccer, etc.).
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They jump higher and farther (up to 1 m).
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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Your child can catch a ball with one hand with greater ease, depending on the speed and how it is thrown.
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They can successfully throw a ball at a target.
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They can ride a bicycle without training wheels over longer distances.
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Their athletic skills are improving as their muscle strength and endurance continue to develop. For example, they can do about 8 push-ups and 5 or 6 sit-ups.
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They are developing specific skills in sports or activities they enjoy (skiing, figure skating, swimming, baseball, soccer, dance, gymnastics, etc.).
Over the next few months, your child will begin to do the following:
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Continue to hone the motor skills they’ve been developing over the years (e.g., moving towards a ball to catch it, biking over longer distances, improving their balance). They may also enjoy playing “little kid” games from time to time, because they are a great way to strengthen various gross motor skills.
How can you help your child progress?
Your child is unique and will develop at their own pace. They have strengths and weaknesses and are becoming increasingly self-aware. You can help your child develop their gross motor skills with these simple everyday actions:
When your child sees you doing outdoor physical activities during your free time, | | they learn the importance of an active lifestyle and want to emulate you. |
When you walk, bike, or do yoga together, | | your child develops habits that support their physical health while exploring their surroundings. |
When you enter a family race with your child, such as a “1 km challenge,” | | they develop muscle strength and endurance and feel proud to take on a challenge with you. |
When you register your child for a physical activity they love, | | they develop physical ability as well as an interest in specific sports. |
When you practise winter sports with your child (e.g., sledding, skating, snowshoeing, skiing), | | they develop an interest in a variety of physical activities for every season. |
When you ask your child to help you choreograph a song, | | they learn to integrate movement into their leisure time and to string together movement sequences while having fun. |
| Scientific review: Josiane Caron Santha, occupational therapist
Research and copywriting:The Naître et grandir team
Updated: November 2025
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Photo: GettyImages/LSOphot
Resources and referencesNote: 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. - Bouchard, Caroline, and Nathalie Fréchette. Le développement global de l’enfant de 6 à 12 ans en contextes éducatifs. 2nd ed., Presses de l’Université du Québec, 2022, 444 pp.
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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.
- Ferland, Francine. Bien grandir : le développement des 6-12 ans. “Parlons Parents” series, Éditions du CHU Sainte-Justine, 2022, 216 pp.
- Ferland, Francine. Bien grandir : le développement des 6-12 ans. Tableau synthèse des habiletés de l’enfant d’âge scolaire. Éditions du CHU Sainte-Justine, 2022. cdn.editions-chu-sainte-justine.org
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Pathways. “Motor.” pathways.org
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