Which statement about gross motor skills is true?

• A. Boys usually develop some gross motor skills much sooner than girls.
• B. As children age, their gross motor abilities continue to develop and improve.
• C. The development of gross motor skills starts as soon as a child is born.
• D. All of the answers are correct.

Answer: (D)

Gross motor development is a gradual build-up of large-muscle skills that changes with age and experience. As children grow, their balance, strength, and coordination improve, enabling more complex movements like running, jumping, and throwing. Movement patterns start very early—infants show reflexive and basic gross motor activity soon after birth, and with growth and practice they gain greater control. There are observed differences in timing between boys and girls in some populations, but these differences are not universal and can vary with individual development and environment. Taken together, these points reflect common patterns of gross motor growth, so all of the above statements are considered true.