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Physical & Motor Development
Gross Motor Development
WiseTip: PM-GMO-M0818-P01A

Provide opportunities for your baby to sit independently and maintain balance while playing with a toy.

8-18 months
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WHY IT MATTERS

Independent walking is a major challenge for infants and is acquired within 8 -18 months.

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  1. Adolph, K. E., & Franchak, J. M. (2017). The development of motor behaviour. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science, 8(1–2). doi:10.1002/wcs.1430. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5182199/

  2. Vieira, A. P. B., Carvalho, R. P., Barela, A. M. F., & Barela, J. A. (2019). Infants’ Age and Walking Experience Shapes Perception-Action Coupling When Crossing Obstacles. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 126(2), 185–201. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512518820791

Simple, repetitive games and actions foster important foundational imitation and social communication behaviours. For older infants and babies, caregivers can initiate playful imitations that require gross motor skills such as rolling or kicking a ball, which requires children to move their bodies, arms and legs with coordination.

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  1. Dunst, C., Raab, M., & Trivette, C. (2011). Characteristics of naturalistic language intervention strategies. Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behaviour Analysis, 5(1–3), 8–16.

The time spent outdoors is an essential determining factor of children’s physical activity and independent mobility.

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  1. Schaefer, L., Plotnikoff, R. C., Majumdar, S. R., Mollard, R., Woo, M., Sadman, R., . . . Ball, G. D. (2014). Outdoor time is associated with physical activity, sedentary time, and cardiorespiratory fitness in youth. The Journal of Pediatrics, 165(3), 516–521.

  2. Wen, L. M., Kite, J., Merom, D., & Rissel, C. (2009). Time spent playing outdoors after school and its relationship with independent mobility: A cross-sectional survey of children aged 10–12 years in Sydney, Australia. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6(1), 15.

A researcher indicates that the day-to-day interactions with people and the environment influence children’s brain structure and functions. Providing children opportunities for sensory and gross motor development develops their brain neurons linked to cognitive development, which are important for later academic success.
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  1. Parks, L. (2014). Sensorimotor development: Hands-on activities for infants and toddlers. Texas Child Care, 37(4), 19–28. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&AN=95444408&site=ehost-live

Studies reported that babies who used baby equipment early did not develop faster than those without the equipment.

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  1. Simpkiss, M. J., & Raikes, A. S. (1972). Problems resulting from the excessive use of baby-walkers and baby-bouncers. Lancet, 1(7753), 747. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(72)90261-9

  2. Crouchman, M. (1986). The effects of babywalkers on early locomotor development. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 28(6), 757-761.

In fact, findings suggest infants with high equipment use tend to score lower on infant motor development. Numerous studies have also examined the injuries related to the use of baby walkers.
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  1. Fazen, L. E., 3rd, & Felizberto, P. I. (1982). Baby walker injuries. Pediatrics, 70(1), 106–109.

  2. Rieder, M. J., Schwartz, C., & Newman, J. (1986). Patterns of walker use and walker injury. Pediatrics, 78(3), 488–493.