Gross motor skills
Last updated
Gross motor skills are movements of the large muscles of the body, used for walking, running, jumping, climbing, balance and coordination.
Topic: Motor and sensory
In plain terms
At school, gross motor skills let students move safely through hallways, use stairs, get on and off the bus, play at recess and take part in PE. Difficulties may come from low muscle tone, coordination disorders, physical disabilities or limited experience. Physical therapists and adapted PE teachers often support these skills.
How it shows up in an IEP
Goals describe functional movement in real settings: "will climb the playground ladder and use the slide with supervision only." Data may use distance, time, number of steps or level of support.
Example
A second grader with low tone walks the hallway to the cafeteria but stops often. A goal targets walking the full 300 feet without a rest in under 3 minutes, measured weekly.
Related terms
- Fine motor skillsFine motor skills are the small, precise movements of the hands and fingers used for tasks like writing, cutting, buttoning and using utensils.
- Physical therapy (school-based)School-based physical therapy helps students move safely and independently around school, with goals for mobility, balance, strength and access.
- Adapted physical educationAdapted physical education is physical education specially designed for a student who cannot fully take part in general PE, even with accommodations.
- Motor planning (praxis)Motor planning, or praxis, is the ability to think of, plan and carry out a new or unfamiliar sequence of movements.
On IEP Atlas
This page describes special education terms and federal rules in general terms and is not legal advice. Our editorial policy explains how IEP Atlas writes and reviews content. Browse all 244 terms.