5.3: Large Motor

Large Motor Skill Development

Early Childhood (Ages 4-6): Building the Foundation

Between the ages of 4 and 6, large motor skills develop rapidly as children refine balance, coordination, and motor planning. At this stage, the cerebellum, which controls movement and coordination, is maturing, allowing for improved stability and postural control. Children learn to balance on one foot, hop, and begin riding a bike with training wheels. Midline orientation, the ability to coordinate movements across the center of the body, strengthens as kids refine skills like skipping and alternating leg movements while climbing stairs. Hand-eye coordination also improves, allowing them to catch larger balls and start using playground equipment more effectively. However, movements are still somewhat uncoordinated, requiring practice and repetition.

Middle Childhood (Ages 7-9): Refining Skills and Control

By ages 7 to 9, children experience significant improvements in coordination, reaction time, and strength, which enhances their ability to engage in more complex physical activities. Motor planning, the brain’s ability to organize and execute movement sequences, becomes more efficient, helping children participate in sports, dance, and obstacle courses. Balance and midline orientation continue to strengthen, enabling smoother and more controlled movements, such as riding a bike without training wheels, jumping rope, and swimming with greater ease. Reaction time begins to improve, allowing for quicker adjustments when catching, dodging, or kicking a moving ball. These advancements result in more fluid movements, but skills still require refinement through play and structured activities.

Late Childhood (Ages 10-12): Increased Precision and Speed

Between 10 and 12 years old, large motor skills become more refined, with faster reaction times, greater agility, and improved endurance. Strength increases due to natural muscle growth, and children develop better motor planning and spatial awareness, allowing them to execute multi-step athletic movements with greater ease. Hand-eye coordination is now precise enough for activities like dribbling a basketball, hitting a baseball, and playing video games that require quick reflexes. Balance and midline orientation are fully developed, allowing for complex movements like gymnastics, skateboarding, or dancing. This stage is also when kids become more competitive in sports, as their coordination and reaction time allow for faster, more strategic play.

Early Adolescence (Ages 13-14): Growth Spurts and Adjustments

During early adolescence, rapid growth spurts can temporarily affect balance and coordination, as the body adjusts to changes in height and limb length. While reaction time and strength continue to improve, some teens may experience a brief period of clumsiness as their motor planning adapts to their changing body. However, hand-eye coordination and midline orientation remain strong, allowing for continued success in sports and physical activities. Strength development accelerates, especially in boys, due to increased muscle mass, improving performance in activities requiring power, such as sprinting, jumping, and weightlifting.

Late Adolescence (Ages 15-16): Peak Physical Control

By ages 15 to 16, most teenagers have developed adult-like motor skills, with fully matured balance, coordination, motor planning, and reaction time. Strength increases significantly, particularly in those engaging in regular physical training, enhancing athletic performance. Hand-eye coordination is at its peak, allowing for precision in sports like tennis, basketball, and soccer. Reaction time is now fast enough for split-second decisions in competitive games. At this stage, midline orientation and coordination allow for advanced movements like complex dance routines, advanced gymnastics, or martial arts. With their fully developed large motor skills, teenagers can master high-level physical activities, demonstrating speed, agility, endurance, and control.