Developmental Milestones Beyond Walking: 18 months to 4 years old
Developmental Milestones Beyond Walking: 18 months to 4 years old
It is common to discuss developmental milestones for babies in the first 18 months leading up to independent walking, but what happens after that? There is a lot of talk of milestones such as rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking, but there are a lot of developmental milestones that occur after that. Every child is different and will develop on their own timeline, but there are typical ranges for the development of gross motor skills.
If you are interested in an outline of developmental milestones in the first 18 months of life, here is a post that discusses typical ranges, as well as when to be concerned.
Here are some guidelines for the progression of milestones through the toddler years
18 Months Old
At 18 months old, your child is a fairly new walker or has had a few months of practice. They will be perfecting the skill of walking and getting faster. With improved control during walking, they will develop the ability to carry objects while walking or maneuver objects while walking.
By this age, your child should:
Walk independently
Carry small toys while walking
Push and pull objects
Begin to run
24 Months Old
At two years old, your child is probably running every chance they get. They don’t stop moving very often and they are very curious. This means they are squatting down to the floor to pick up whatever they can find, going up on tiptoes to surf the countertops, and starting to jump and climb.
By this age, your child should:
Squat to pick up a toy and stand back up
Reach for something up on tiptoes
Walk up stairs with help
Kick a ball
Jump with two feet
Climb on and off of furniture without help
3 Years Old
At three years old, your toddler is getting a lot more coordinated with their movements. This coordination leads to the development of more difficult developmental milestones like pedaling a tricycle, negotiating stairs, and kicking a ball.
By this age, your child should:
Attempt to throw and catch a ball
Walk up stairs alternating feet
Kick a ball forward
Pedal a tricycle
Open doors
4 Years Old
At four years old, your child will further develop their balance to allow them to stand on one foot and hop on one foot, as well as negotiate stairs in a more adult-like fashion.
By this age, your child should:
Hop on one foot
Stand on one foot for 4-5 seconds
Move forward and backward without loss of balance
Walk up and down stairs, without a railing, switching feet
Please note that if your child had any gross motor delays in the first 18 months, it is not uncommon for some of the skills after walking to be delayed as well. This list is not all-inclusive, but is an overview of skills. If you are interested in further information on the development of speech, cognition, and social/emotional skills, here are some great resources:
If your child is not achieving these milestones at the appropriate age, discuss this with your pediatrician. An evaluation by a physical therapist may be warranted.