# What is Co-Ordination in child development?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-co-ordination-in-child-development
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

Co-ordination is a child's growing ability to make different body parts work together smoothly — eyes guiding hands, legs and arms in rhythm, and both sides of the body teaming up. In the toddler years it underpins stacking, feeding, walking and climbing. It develops gradually at each child's own pace and is not a pass-or-fail test; small wobbles are normal, while persistent clumsiness or lost skills are worth a gentle review.

*The way little hands, eyes and feet learn to work together as a team — that is co-ordination.*

## In short
**Co-ordination** is your child's growing ability to make different parts of the body work together smoothly and at the right time — eyes guiding hands, legs and arms moving in rhythm, both sides of the body teaming up. In the toddler years (around 1 to 3), it is what lets a child stack blocks, hold a spoon, kick a ball or climb steps. It is a normal, gradually-developing motor skill, not a test a child passes or fails.

## What co-ordination looks like in toddlers
Co-ordination weaves together several threads. **Hand–eye co-ordination** lets a child post a shape into a sorter, scribble or feed themselves. **Gross-motor co-ordination** helps with walking, running, squatting to pick up a toy and climbing. **Bilateral co-ordination** is using two hands together — holding a cup with one hand and stirring with the other. These grow at their own pace, and small wobbles are completely normal as a toddler practises.

You might consider a gentle developmental review if, by around 2–3 years, your child consistently struggles to walk steadily, seems very clumsy compared with peers, cannot hold or use simple objects, or loses skills they once had.

## The Pinnacle way
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care, never from an app or form. Our team looks at the whole picture of [co-ordination](/co-ordination-toddler) and may draw on [occupational therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) to build playful, individualised support.

## Trusted sources
The WHO Nurturing Care Framework and ICF movement-function descriptions; CDC and HealthyChildren guidance on motor milestones in toddlers.

**Next step —** If you would like to understand your toddler's motor strengths, book a developmental review to map their co-ordination and start any helpful support early.

## Sources
- WHO Nurturing Care Framework: early childhood development: https://nurturing-care.org
- CDC: developmental milestones for movement: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- AAP HealthyChildren: toddler motor development: https://www.healthychildren.org

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Abilities: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/abilities
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Toddler: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/age/toddler
- Motor: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/motor
- Definition: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/definition
- Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen
- Occupational Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/occupational-therapy
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity
- Co-Ordination: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/ability/co-ordination-toddler
- b7 · Neuromusculoskeletal & movement-related functions (ICF b7): https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/icf/b7
- English: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/language/en
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/sdg/3
- ASHA / PHC / Frontline: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/asha_phc
- Doctor / Pediatrician: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/doctor
- Therapist / Clinician: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/therapist

## Related question paths

### Understand the subject
- What is Body Coordination in child development?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-body-coordination-in-child-development
- What Co-Ordination represents and when delay is clinically significant: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-co-ordination-represent-developmentally-and-when-is-a-delay-in-it-clinically-significant
- ICF Mapping of Co-Ordination in Early Childhood: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/which-icf-functioning-domain-does-co-ordination-map-to-in-early-childhood

### Recognise signs & concerns
- What does a delay in Co-Ordination mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-a-delay-in-co-ordination-mean-for-my-child

### Understand assessment
- How is Co-Ordination assessed?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-co-ordination-assessed
- How Co-Ordination Is Scored on the AbilityScore: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-co-ordination-scored-on-the-abilityscore
- What does an amber zone for Co-Ordination mean?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-co-ordination-what-does-that-mean
- What a Green Zone for Co-Ordination Means: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-co-ordination-what-does-that-mean
- What a Red Zone for Co-Ordination Means: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-co-ordination-what-does-that-mean
- What an AbilityScore of 0–100 in Co-Ordination means for your child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-in-co-ordination-mean-for-my-child
- What does an AbilityScore of 100–200 in Co-Ordination mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-in-co-ordination-mean-for-my-child
- What an AbilityScore of 200–300 in Co-Ordination means for your child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-in-co-ordination-mean-for-my-child
- What does an AbilityScore of 300-400 in Co-Ordination mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-in-co-ordination-mean-for-my-child
- What does an AbilityScore of 400–500 in Co-Ordination mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-in-co-ordination-mean-for-my-child
- What an AbilityScore of 500–600 in Co-Ordination means: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-in-co-ordination-mean-for-my-child
- What an AbilityScore of 600-700 in Co-Ordination Means for Your Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-in-co-ordination-mean-for-my-child

### Explore therapy & support
- Amber Zone for Co-Ordination: What To Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-co-ordination-what-should-we-do-next
- Green Zone for Co-Ordination — Next Steps for Parents: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-co-ordination-what-should-we-do-next
- Co-Ordination red zone: your next step: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-co-ordination-what-should-we-do-next
- Co-Ordination AbilityScore: Your Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-co-ordination-abilityscore-is-0-100-what-are-the-next-steps
- Co-Ordination AbilityScore 100–200 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-co-ordination-abilityscore-is-100-200-what-are-the-next-steps
- Co-Ordination AbilityScore 200–300 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-co-ordination-abilityscore-is-200-300-what-are-the-next-steps
- Co-Ordination AbilityScore 300–400 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-co-ordination-abilityscore-is-300-400-what-are-the-next-steps
- Co-Ordination AbilityScore 400–500 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-co-ordination-abilityscore-is-400-500-what-are-the-next-steps
- Co-Ordination AbilityScore 500–600 — What Next?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-co-ordination-abilityscore-is-500-600-what-are-the-next-steps
- Co-Ordination AbilityScore 600–700 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-co-ordination-abilityscore-is-600-700-what-are-the-next-steps
- Co-Ordination AbilityScore 700–800 — What Are the Next Steps?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-co-ordination-abilityscore-is-700-800-what-are-the-next-steps
- Co-Ordination AbilityScore 800–900 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-co-ordination-abilityscore-is-800-900-what-are-the-next-steps

### At home & in everyday life
- How can I support my child's Co-Ordination?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-my-child-s-co-ordination
- How can therapy improve my child's Co-Ordination?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-therapy-improve-my-child-s-co-ordination
- What simple daily activities help build a child's Co-Ordination?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-simple-daily-activities-help-build-a-child-s-co-ordination