When to worry about Gross Motor Delay at five

If your five-year-old seems wobblier, slower or more tired than other children at the park, it's natural to wonder whether something needs a closer look — and asking now is a loving, sensible thing to do.

In short

By five, most children can run smoothly, hop on one foot a few times, climb stairs with alternating feet, throw and catch a large ball, and pedal a tricycle or small bike. It's worth a gentle developmental check if your child consistently struggles with these compared with peers, tires very quickly, frequently falls, avoids active play, or seems to have lost a skill they once had. Gross Motor Delay describes large-muscle skills arriving later than expected — it is a pattern to observe and assess, not a diagnosis, and many children make excellent progress with the right support.

Signs worth a closer look at age five

Every child develops at their own pace, but consider a check if you notice several of these persisting:

• Cannot run with a smooth, controlled stride, or trips and falls far more than other children
• Struggles to hop on one foot, jump with both feet, or balance briefly on one leg
• Avoids climbing, stairs, jumping or playground equipment that peers enjoy
• Difficulty catching, throwing or kicking a large ball
• Tires unusually quickly during active play, or complains of leg pain
• Markedly clumsy or stiff movements, or favouring one side of the body
• Loss of a skill previously mastered — this always warrants prompt medical review

A single tricky skill is rarely a concern. A cluster of these, present across home, park and school, is the signal to seek a friendly clinical opinion.

Why a timely check helps

The years before school are a window when movement skills, confidence and participation grow together — a child who moves easily joins in, makes friends and builds self-belief. Identifying a delay early lets a clinician tell apart a normal variation, a temporary lag, or an underlying reason that benefits from support such as physiotherapy. Importantly, any sudden loss of skill, weakness, or unusual stiffness should be reviewed by a doctor promptly rather than waiting.

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 form or checklist. Our therapists look at your child's whole movement story — strength, balance, coordination and how they join in everyday play — and build a warm, play-based plan. Targeted physiotherapy and motor support helps children grow steadier, stronger and more confident on their feet.

Trusted sources

CDC developmental milestone guidance for five-year-olds (cdc.gov); American Academy of Pediatrics family guidance (healthychildren.org); WHO ICD-11 framework for motor development.

Next step — If several of these signs feel familiar, the kindest move is a calm chat with a clinician. Book a developmental check with a Pinnacle physiotherapist today.