In this section we explore how the large muscles of the legs and core strengthen to progress from learning to push feet into the ground to rise, through to jumping with increasing height and distance. Keep reading to find out how the skills for jumping emerge, what these emerging skills look like, and the games you could play to encourage skill development.

Building blocks for jumping

Learning to push feet down into the ground to rise

Simple jumping

Learning to push downwards to leave the ground momentarily.

Advanced jumping

Increasing distance, height, speed or changing direction

Babies

  • Push up to stand at a surface and sit back down again

  • Stand alone

  • Bend knees to squat down to pick up a toy from the floor, using hands to get back up again.

Activities

See what activities can help to support this core skill.

See Activities