Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, 2nd ed. (PDMS-2)

A widely used, play-based way to map a young child's motor strengths — from grasping a toy to running across a room — and turn that picture into support.

In short

The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, 2nd edition (PDMS-2) is a standardised, clinician-administered assessment of early motor development for children from birth to about 5 years (roughly 0–71 months). It looks at how a child moves and uses their body across two broad areas — gross motor (large movements like sitting, walking, jumping and balance) and fine motor (small precise movements like grasping, stacking and using the hands and fingers). It gives a clear, structured profile of a child's motor strengths and the areas that may benefit from support — it is not a diagnosis on its own.

What the PDMS-2 assesses

The PDMS-2 is made up of six subtests grouped under those two areas. On the gross-motor side it observes reflexes (in the youngest infants), stationary control (balance and holding a posture), locomotion (rolling, crawling, walking, running, hopping) and object manipulation (catching, throwing and kicking a ball, usually from around 12 months). On the fine-motor side it looks at grasping (how the hand holds objects) and visual-motor integration (using the eyes and hands together to reach, build, draw and manipulate small items).

A trained professional guides the child through age-appropriate, mostly playful activities and records what the child can do. The results combine into composite scores — including a gross-motor and fine-motor profile and an overall picture — that help a therapist compare a child's motor development with typical expectations for their age and, importantly, track progress over time. Because it is detailed and standardised, it is often used both to understand where a child is starting from and to measure how far they have come after a period of therapy.

When this kind of assessment helps

A motor assessment like the PDMS-2 is helpful when a parent or professional notices a child reaching motor milestones more slowly than peers — late sitting, walking or difficulty with hand skills like holding a spoon or crayon — or when a paediatrician recommends a closer look. It is one tool among several; a skilled clinician chooses and interprets it as part of a fuller understanding of the whole child.

The Pinnacle way

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, never from an app or form. Our therapists may draw on validated tools such as the PDMS-2 alongside careful observation, then build an individualised plan that can include occupational therapy to strengthen fine and gross-motor skills through play.

Trusted sources

The American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren on motor milestones and developmental monitoring; CDC developmental milestone guidance; WHO resources on early childhood motor development.

Next step — If you have questions about how your child is moving, grasping or balancing, book a developmental review so a qualified clinician can choose the right assessment and map your child's motor strengths.