gross motor
Is It Normal My Toddler Cannot Do Gross Motor Yet?
Gross-motor skills appear across a wide range of months, so variation between 12 and 36 months is normal. If your toddler is steadily gaining new movements — even slowly — that is usually healthy. Seek a developmental check if a skill is firmly stuck, has been lost, walking has not begun by 18 months, or there is floppiness, stiffness or strong one-sided preference. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis.
"Cannot yet" is one of the kindest phrases in child development — it means the door is still wide open, and you are watching at exactly the right time.
In short
Gross-motor skills — rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling to stand, walking, running and climbing — appear across a range of months, not on a single fixed day, so a wide spread is completely normal between 12 and 36 months. Many toddlers walk anywhere from 12 to 18 months and run, jump and climb stairs over the following year. If your toddler is steadily gaining new movements, even slowly, that is usually a healthy pattern. A developmental check is wise if a skill seems firmly stuck, has been lost, or comes with floppiness, stiffness or strong one-sided preference.What to watch by age
Gross-motor growth is a sequence, and the order matters more than the calendar:- By ~12–15 months — pulling to stand and cruising along furniture; first independent steps for many.
- By ~18 months — walking well, beginning to climb onto low furniture.
- By ~24 months — running (a little stiffly), kicking a ball, walking up steps with help.
- By ~36 months — climbing well, jumping with both feet, pedalling a trike.
Gentle flags that deserve a clinician's eye: not walking by 18 months; loss of a skill once gained; persistent floppiness or stiffness; consistently favouring one side of the body; or movement delays alongside few words or limited social connection. These are reasons to look early — never a diagnosis.
The science
Muscle strength, balance, coordination and confidence build through everyday play, and tools like the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales help clinicians map this objectively. Early support at this age is powerful because young nervous systems learn movement quickly through repetition and play.The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online list. Learn how we nurture gross motor milestones through play, and how our occupational therapy team builds strength, balance and confidence.Trusted sources
CDC developmental milestones and "Learn the Signs, Act Early"; American Academy of Pediatrics (healthychildren.org) guidance on motor development and monitoring in toddlers; WHO healthy-development frameworks.Next step — Trust what you see each day. Book a developmental screen for a calm, clear look at your toddler's movement and milestones.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.
What to watch
Seek a check if your toddler is not walking by 18 months, has lost a movement skill once gained, shows persistent floppiness or stiffness, consistently favours one side of the body, or shows motor delays alongside few words or limited social connection. Steady gains, even slow ones, are usually a healthy sign.
Try this at home
Give safe floor time and low furniture to pull up on, and play movement games — chasing bubbles, pushing a toy trolley, gentle stair practice with you holding hands. Note which new movements appear each week to share with a clinician.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10 · reviewed every 540 days
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
My toddler is 16 months and not walking — should I worry?
Many children walk anywhere between 12 and 18 months, so 16 months without independent steps can still be within the typical range, especially if your toddler is pulling to stand and cruising. If walking has not begun by 18 months, or you see floppiness, stiffness or a strong one-sided preference, arrange a developmental check — early support works beautifully at this age.
What gross-motor skills should my 2-year-old have?
Around 24 months many toddlers run a little stiffly, kick a ball, walk up steps with help and climb onto low furniture. Children vary, so steady progress matters more than an exact date. If skills seem firmly stuck or a skill was lost, a clinician's gentle review is wise.
Does crawling matter, or can my toddler skip it?
Some healthy children shuffle on their bottom or move straight to pulling up and walking without classic crawling, and this can be perfectly fine. What matters most is that your toddler keeps gaining strength, balance and new ways to move. If overall movement seems stuck, ask for a developmental screen.