— Service Overview

Gross Motor Skills
& Coordination

Every child deserves to move through the world with confidence. When running, climbing, catching, and keeping up with peers feels harder than it should, occupational therapy can help children build the physical foundation they need to participate — and to thrive.

child on his tummy using a floor scooter

What are gross motor skills?

Gross motor skills are the large-scale movements made by the major muscle groups of the body — the legs, arms, core, and back. Walking, running, jumping, climbing, throwing, catching, balancing, and riding a bike all depend on gross motor development. These are the skills that let children chase each other at recess, pump their legs on a swing, navigate a crowded hallway, and sit upright at a desk for an entire school day.

Closely related is motor coordination — the brain’s ability to organize and sequence movement smoothly and accurately. A child with strong individual muscles but poor coordination may still struggle to ride a bike, kick a ball, or execute the dance steps everyone else picks up quickly. Coordination is what makes movement feel fluid rather than effortful.

Ready to take the next step?

We’d love to learn about your child. Reach out today to request an appointment or ask a question.

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Why it matters beyond the playground

It’s tempting to think of gross motor difficulty as a sports problem — something that matters mainly to families who want their kids to be athletes. But gross motor and coordination challenges reach much further than that.

A child with poor postural control may slump in their chair, fatiguing before the school day ends. A child with weak bilateral coordination may struggle to copy from a board, open a lunchbox, or carry a backpack up a flight of stairs. A child who moves clumsily may be teased, may begin avoiding physical activity, or may internalize a story about themselves as not being “athletic” — a story that can shape their relationship with their body for years.

Gross motor development also feeds fine motor development. Core strength and shoulder stability are the foundation on which precise hand and finger movements are built. A child’s ability to write, draw, and use tools is partly a product of how stable and supported their body is from the trunk up.

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Signs your child might benefit from gross motor support

Appears clumsy or frequently bumps into things, trips, or falls
Tires easily during physical activity or avoids it altogether
Difficulty with balance — stumbles on uneven ground, can’t stand on one foot
Struggles with catching, throwing, or kicking in age-appropriate ways
Difficulty learning to ride a bike, skip, or hop
Poor posture — slumping while seated, difficulty sitting upright for extended periods
Hesitant or reluctant to try new physical activities or playground equipment
Coordination seems asymmetrical — one side of the body noticeably stronger or more controlled
Difficulty with transitions involving movement — stairs, getting in and out of cars

Getting Started

Not sure where to begin? Our Getting Started page walks through exactly what to expect — from your first call to your child’s first session.

How It Works

How we approach it

Our evaluation looks at balance, postural stability, bilateral coordination, motor planning, body awareness, and endurance. We consider the child’s sensory processing as well — many gross motor difficulties are intertwined with how a child perceives their body in space (proprioception) and how they respond to movement (vestibular processing).

Treatment at Ethos Pediatric Therapy is active, engaging, and grounded in what each child finds motivating. Obstacle courses, balance challenges, ball skills, climbing activities, and rhythmic movement sequences are all common session elements — but they’re never arbitrary. Every activity is chosen to target a specific aspect of the child’s development, and sessions are structured to build on one another over time.

We work closely with families to understand what participation looks like in your child’s daily life — which activities feel hard, which they’re avoiding, and where they most want to gain confidence. For some children, the goal is keeping up at recess; for others, it’s riding a bike with their siblings, managing the stairs at school, or feeling steady and secure enough to try a new sport.

What we address in treatment

Balance and postural stability
Core strength and endurance
Bilateral coordination — using both sides of the body together smoothly
Motor planning and sequencing
Body awareness and spatial orientation
Vestibular processing (movement and balance sense)
Proprioceptive processing (body-in-space awareness)
Sports skills and movement confidence
Transitions involving movement — stairs, curbs, uneven surfaces

What parents can do at home

Make movement part of everyday life — walking, carrying groceries, climbing on play equipment, and doing chores all build strength and coordination
Play catch and kick with low-pressure balls — frequent, relaxed practice is more effective than formal drill
Encourage scooters, balance bikes, and tricycles for children working on bilateral coordination and balance
Allow your child to navigate challenging terrain — hills, uneven ground, and stairs (with supervision) all build body awareness
Swimming is one of the most effective full-body activities for gross motor development — even recreational swimming counts
Ask your therapist about specific movement games or routines to reinforce what’s being worked on in sessions