Gross Motor Skills for Babies Aged 9 – 12 Months

CME WebsitesChild Development, Infants 3 - 12 Months

At one year old, most babies can do the following gross motor skills:

  • Sit without support
  • Crawl
  • Pull up to a standing position without using chairs or other people, then stand
  • Walk while holding something for support (a hand or toy)
  • Imitate you as you roll a ball
  • Crawl on hands and knees
  • Pull to stand and cruise around furniture
  • Walk with 2 hands held
  • Stand for a few seconds
  • Move into standing by lifting one leg

To help encourage your one year old’s gross motor skills development, you can do the following:

  • When your baby is between nine and twelve months old, open a large box at both ends and encourage him or her to crawl through the new tunnel.
  • Another fun tunnel can be made by placing a sheet over a table. Turn this into a game by calling your baby’s name and rewarding him or her with kisses when he or she comes out of the tunnel.
  • Turn changing diapers into a mini workout. When your baby is kicking his or her legs, start singing a song. When he or she stops kicking, you stop singing. When he or she starts kicking, you start singing again. Your baby will be working those legs, plus enjoying being in control of your actions.
  • Containers are great toys. Now that your baby can sit, put a large see-through container in front of him or her with plastic lids, blocks anything that will fit in the container. Your baby will love putting things into the bowl and dumping them out.
  • Turn bath time into fun time. Measuring cups and plastic funnels are great in the tub. Or, take a small plastic watering can and making it ‘rain’ during bath time.