Kids Movement & Strength Milestones by Age (0–10)
What this page is: one sourced reference for how kids move from birth to age 10. Every milestone in the tables comes from the CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." checklists, the WHO Motor Development Study, the American Academy of Pediatrics (via HealthyChildren.org) or the NHS. The "Our gear fit" column is BabyGains' own recommendation, not sourced data. Last reviewed: September 2026.
How to use it: find your kid's age band and read across. The CDC frames its checklists as things "most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age." That is a floor, not a race.
Not medical advice. If you are worried about how your child moves, talk to your pediatrician or health visitor.
0–6 months
| Milestone (sourced) | What it looks like in play | Our gear fit |
|---|---|---|
| Holds head up when on tummy (CDC, by 2 months) | Short tummy-time bursts on your chest or a mat. | No gear. Floor, mat, your chest. |
| Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy (CDC, by 4 months) | Mini forearm push-ups, tracking a toy just out of reach. | Tummy time is the workout. |
| Rolls from tummy to back; pushes up with straight arms when on tummy (CDC, by 6 months) | Full press-up position, then a roll to grab something. | Not yet. Baby Gains (0–2) comes later. |
| Sitting without support: WHO window 3.8 to 9.2 months | Propped sitting, then hands-free for a moment. | Floor and a soft landing zone. |
This is the base. Tummy time builds the neck, back and shoulders everything else stacks on. The NHS recommends at least 30 minutes of it spread through the day. Get on the floor with them.
6–12 months
| Milestone (sourced) | What it looks like in play | Our gear fit |
|---|---|---|
| Sits without support; gets to a sitting position by herself (CDC, by 9 months) | Sitting up to play, twisting to reach. | Open floor. Nothing to buy. |
| Hands-and-knees crawling: WHO window 5.2 to 13.5 months. NHS: "not all babies crawl" | Rocking on all fours, then first moves toward a toy. | Clear a crawl lane. |
| Pulls up to stand; walks holding on to furniture (CDC, by 1 year). WHO: standing with assistance 4.8 to 11.4 months, walking with assistance 6.0 to 13.7 months | Hauling up on the couch, then cruising along it. | Kids Wooden Power Sled as a push-walker once cruising is confident. Supervised. |
Pulling to stand is the first real loaded movement your kid does: bodyweight through the legs. A push sled gives that pattern a target. Skip sit-in walkers.
1–2 years
| Milestone (sourced) | What it looks like in play | Our gear fit |
|---|---|---|
| Takes a few steps on his own (CDC, by 15 months); walking alone: WHO window 8.2 to 17.6 months | Wobbly steps between two adults. | Power Sled for supported walking reps. |
| Walks without holding on to anyone or anything; climbs on and off a couch without help (CDC, by 18 months) | Crossing a room carrying a toy, scaling the sofa. | Sled pushes across the gym floor. |
| Kicks a ball; runs; walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help (CDC, by 2 years) | Kicking a ball, short sprints, stairs with a hand on the rail. | Soft ball and stairs. See Baby Gains (0–2). |
This is the year movement explodes. The NHS wants toddlers active for at least 180 minutes a day: walking, climbing, pushing, carrying. What that looks like with some structure: Your Toddler's First Workout Routine.
2–3 years
| Milestone (sourced) | What it looks like in play | Our gear fit |
|---|---|---|
| Jumps off the ground with both feet (CDC, by 30 months) | Two-foot hops off a step or over a line. | A low step. Nothing else. |
| Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids (CDC, by 30 months) | Grip strength: twisting, pulling, holding on. | Kids Wooden Kettlebell Set for pick-ups and carries. |
| Rides a tricycle with ease; catches a large ball and throws a smaller one overhand (AAP/HealthyChildren, at age 3) | Pedalling, catching a big soft ball with both arms. | Trike plus a big soft ball. Browse First Reps (2–5). |
Two-year-olds copy everything. If they see you lift, they want to lift. A light wooden kettlebell gets picked up, carried across the room and put down with purpose. That is a deadlift and a farmer's carry, and they think it is a game.
3–5 years
| Milestone (sourced) | What it looks like in play | Our gear fit |
|---|---|---|
| Catches a large ball most of the time (CDC, by 4 years) | Two-handed catches from a short distance. | Big soft ball, then a smaller one. |
| Stairs without the handrail; pumps on a swing; strength for somersaults and a standing broad jump (AAP/HealthyChildren, ages 4 to 5) | Hands-free stairs, forward rolls, two-foot jumps for distance. | Kids & Parent Gymnastic Rings set low for hangs. |
| Hops on one foot (CDC, by 5 years) | Single-leg hops, hopscotch, one-foot balance. | Kids Wooden Starter Barbell for squat and press shapes, unloaded. |
The AAP describes four- to five-year-olds as having "the coordination and balance of an adult." That is the window to teach movement shapes: squat, hinge, press, hang. Pattern, not load. More in What Science Says About Movement in Early Childhood.
5–7 years
| Milestone (sourced) | What it looks like in play | Our gear fit |
|---|---|---|
| "By age 6 years, most children have the basic motor skills for simple organized sports" but may still lack hand-eye coordination for complex skills (AAP/HealthyChildren) | Running, swimming, soccer, gymnastics. | Rings, bar and kettlebells from Training Mode (5–10). |
| Fundamental skills (running, skipping, kicking, jumping, hopping, catching, throwing) acquired by "early elementary school" (AAP/HealthyChildren) | Skipping rope, hopping games, throwing at a target. | Jump rope and a wall target. |
| "Children as young as 5 can build strength with one-legged hops or frog jumps" (AAP, 2020 clinical report) | Frog jumps, bear crawls, single-leg hops. | Bodyweight first. Rings for supported rows. |
This is where "training" starts to mean something. The NHS asks for an average of 60 active minutes a day from age 5, with variety across the week to build muscles and bones. Bodyweight first. Once they can plank, frog jump and hang, add a light implement.
7–10 years
| Milestone (sourced) | What it looks like in play | Our gear fit |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 6 to 9: focus on "refining basic and transitional skills, general fitness, and technique"; still need "show-and-tell" instruction (AAP/HealthyChildren) | Run then jump, catch then throw. Demonstrate first, one cue at a time. | Starter barbell for squat, press and deadlift technique. |
| NSCA position: a child ready for sport (generally age 7 or 8) who can follow instructions is ready for "some type of resistance training" | Short, supervised sets with a light bar, rings or kettlebell. | Full Training Mode (5–10) setup. |
| "By ages 10 to 12 years, most children are ready for more complex sports"; growth spurts can temporarily affect coordination and balance (AAP/HealthyChildren) | Team sports with strategy. Expect clumsy weeks during growth spurts. | Light loads through growth spurts. Technique over weight. |
By eight, most kids can follow a three-step instruction and hold attention for a short session. That is the bar the position statements set. Full guide: Kids Strength Training. Short version: supervised, light, technique first.
Strength training for kids: what the position statements say
Two documents set the standard: the American Academy of Pediatrics' 2020 clinical report "Resistance Training for Children and Adolescents" and the National Strength and Conditioning Association's youth resistance training position statement.
Both land in the same place. The NSCA's position is that "a properly designed and supervised resistance training program is relatively safe for youth" and can improve strength, motor skills and resistance to sports injuries. Readiness test: ready for sport, generally around 7 or 8, and able to follow instructions.
The AAP report goes earlier for bodyweight work and states that "well-designed resistance training programs have not been shown to have a negative effect on physeal (growth plate) health, linear growth, and cardiovascular health in youth." Both stress qualified supervision, proper technique, and starting with bodyweight or light resistance.
The "lifting stunts growth" line does not hold up against either document. Unsupervised, badly loaded lifting is the real risk.
How to use this at home
Match the band, not the birthday. If your five-year-old cannot hop on one foot yet, work on hopping. If your three-year-old is already doing frog jumps, keep going. The milestones show the floor. Your kid shows where they are.
Bodyweight before load, every time. Tummy time, crawling, climbing, jumping, hanging. If they cannot own the movement with their own body, an implement will not fix it. The wooden gear makes the pattern obvious and fun, not heavy.
Supervise and demonstrate. Every position statement says the same thing: an adult watching, and kids learning by copying. You do not need a certificate to spot a three-year-old on a push sled. You do need to be there.
Short and often beats long and rare. Five minutes during your warm-up is more than most kids get. If they want to stop, stop.
Cite this page
BabyGains, Kids Movement & Strength Milestones by Age, babygains.store/pages/kids-movement-milestones-by-age, reviewed September 2026
Sources
- CDC, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." milestones: index, 2m, 4m, 6m, 9m, 1y, 15m, 18m, 2y, 30m, 3y, 4y, 5y
- WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study: motor development milestones; windows of achievement table (PDF)
- AAP / HealthyChildren.org: Movement Milestones in Preschoolers; Is Your Child Ready for Sports?; From Motor Skills to Sports Skills; Sports Performance and Ability in School-Age Children; Guidance on Resistance Training for Children
- Stricker PR et al., AAP: Resistance Training for Children and Adolescents, Pediatrics, June 2020
- NSCA: Youth Resistance Training: Updated Position Statement Paper (PDF)
- NHS: Baby moves; activity guidelines under 5; activity guidelines 5 to 18
FAQ
At what age can kids start strength training?
Position statements from the AAP and NSCA tie readiness to behaviour, not a birthday: a child who can follow instructions and is ready for sport, generally around 7 or 8, is ready for supervised resistance training. The AAP notes bodyweight moves like frog jumps can start around 5.
Does lifting weights stunt a child's growth?
The AAP's 2020 clinical report states that well-designed resistance training programs have not been shown to harm growth plates or linear growth. The risk sits with unsupervised, poorly loaded training.
My baby skipped crawling. Is that a problem?
The NHS notes not all babies crawl, and some bottom-shuffle instead. The WHO's crawling window runs to about 13.5 months. If you have concerns, ask your pediatrician or health visitor.
Are these milestones deadlines?
No. The CDC describes them as things most children (75% or more) can do by a given age. They show what is typical, not a test. A pediatrician is the right person to assess an individual child.