Gross motor skills refer to the use of which of the following?

• A. Fine motor coordination and dexterity
• B. Balance and postural control
• C. Sensory integration
• D. Use of large muscle groups for body movements

Answer: (D)

Gross motor skills mean using the body's large muscles to move. When you walk, run, jump, climb, throw, or balance, your arms, legs, and trunk coordinate together to produce those actions. This distinguishes them from fine motor skills, which involve small muscles in the hands and fingers for precise tasks like writing or buttoning. Sensory integration is about how the brain processes sensory information, not about movement itself. Balance and postural control are important aspects of movement but describe a capability within gross motor function rather than define the whole concept. So using large muscle groups for body movements is the best way to characterize gross motor skills.