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IOWA EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS 4th Edition June 2026

K–12 Standards

Area 2: Physical Well-being and Motor Development
Other Iowa Early Learning Standards sets
Approaches to Learning: Preschool
Area 1: Emotional Wellbeing and Relationship Development
Area 3: Approaches to Learning
Area 4: Social Development and Social Studies
Area 5: Creative Arts
Area 6: Communication, Language and Emergent Literacy
Area 7: Mathematics
Area 8: Science
Communication, Language, and Literacy: Preschool (3-5 years)
Creative Arts: Preschool (3-5 years)
Mathematics
Physical Well-Being and Motor Development: Preschool (3-5 years)
Science
Social and Emotional Development: Preschool (3-5 years)
Social Studies: Preschool (3-5 years)

Participates in practices that promote health, safety and nutrition2.1

Birth-12 months
1. A
  Responds to care and play routines2.1.A
2. B
  Establishes healthy eating and sleeping patterns with the assistance of an adult 2.1.B
3. C
  Consumes breastmilk or formula, progressing to solid foods and drinking from a cup2.1.C
4. D
  Shows a willingness to try new foods and engages in food exploration2.1.D
Approximately 12-24 months
1. E
  Participates in healthy selfcare routines, with adult support2.1.E
2. F
  Demonstrates a balance of rest and physical activity with adult support2.1.F
3. G
  Advances self-feeding skills by exploring and practicing with eating and drinking utensils2.1.G
4. H
  Participates in safe behaviors in the environment with adult support 2.1.H
Approximately 24-36 months
1. I
  Demonstrates healthy selfcare routines, with increasing independence2.1.I
2. J
  Demonstrates a balance of rest and physical activity with less adult support2.1.J
3. K
  Uses eating and drinking utensils with more control2.1.K
4. L
  Participates in safe behaviors in the environment with less adult support 2.1.L
Approximately 3-4 years
1. M
  Participates in healthy selfcare routines.2.1.M
2. N
  Begins to recognize and identify healthy foods2.1.N
3. O
  Advances self-feeding skills to independently feed self with eating and drinking utensils 2.1.O
4. P
  Demonstrates safe behaviors in the environment2.1.P
5. Q
  Demonstrates increasing independence with balancing rest and physical activity2.1.Q
Approximately 4-5 years
1. R
  Communicates safety rules and the reasons for the rules for indoor and outdoor environments2.1.R
2. S
  Follows healthy self care routines2.1.S
3. T
  Serves food or pours drinks with supervision2.1.T
4. U
  Develops appropriate balance between rest and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle2.1.U

Develops large motor skills2.2

Birth-12 months
1. A
  Notices hands and feet, bringing to mouth, batting and touching objects2.2.A
2. B
  Begins to use balance, strength and coordination in activities:2.2.B
  a
  Turns head from side to side2.2.B.a
  b
  Lifts head up while positioned on stomach2.2.B.b
3. C
  Gains control of the head and body:2.2.C
  a
  Sits up2.2.C.a
  b
  Stands with support2.2.C.b
4. D
  Begins to use control in large motor skills:2.2.D
  a
  Reaches for objects2.2.D.a
  b
  Rolls over from back to stomach and stomach to back2.2.D.b
  c
  Pushes up with straight arms while positioned on stomach2.2.D.c
  d
  Crawls forward2.2.D.d
  e
  Stands while holding on to furniture2.2.D.e
  f
  Walks while holding on to furniture-cruising2.2.D.f
  g
  Takes steps while holding adult’s hand2.2.D.g
Approximately 12-24 months
1. E
  Demonstrates increasing control in large motor skills:2.2.E
  a
  Walks independently2.2.E.a
  b
  Stoops and recovers2.2.E.b
  c
  Rolls a ball2.2.E.c
  d
  Climbs on low furniture or play equipment2.2.E.d
  e
  Crawls up stairs or walks up stairs with adult support2.2.E.e
Approximately 24-36 months
1. F
  Demonstrates more advanced control in large motor skills: 2.2.F
  a
  Runs2.2.F.a
  b
  Throws a ball2.2.F.b
  c
  Jumps with two feet off the ground2.2.F.c
2. G
  Demonstrates increasing balance in activities:2.2.G
  a
  Walks up stairs placing two feet on each step2.2.G.a
  b
  Marches2.2.G.b
  c
  Moves a riding toy by using feet2.2.G.c
Approximately 3-4 years
1. H
  Demonstrates control and balance in large motor skills using both sides of the body together - crossing midline:2.2.H
  a
  Walks with a steady gait2.2.H.a
  b
  Runs without falling2.2.H.b
  c
  Jumps forward2.2.H.c
  d
  Gallops2.2.H.d
  e
  Pedals a tricycle2.2.H.e
  f
  Walks up stairs by alternating feet2.2.H.f
2. I
  Demonstrates the ability to coordinate movements with balls: 2.2.I
  a
  Throws overhand2.2.I.a
  b
  Kicks a ball2.2.I.b
  c
  Catches a large ball2.2.I.c
  d
  Bounces a ball2.2.I.d
3. J
  Experiments with creative movement skills2.2.J
Approximately 4-5 years
1. K
  Demonstrates increasing control, coordination and balance in large motor skills using both sides of the body together - crossing midline:2.2.K
  a
  Walks a straight line2.2.K.a
  b
  Hops on one foot2.2.K.b
  c
  Steers a tricycle around objects2.2.K.c
  d
  Jumps over objects2.2.K.d
  e
  Skips2.2.K.e
2. L
  Uses creative movement in a variety of settings2.2.L

Develops small motor skills2.3

Birth-12 months
1. A
  Begins to develop handeye coordination to perform simple self-help and small motor tasks:2.3.A
  a
  Reaches for and grasps objects2.3.A.a
  b
  Transfers objects from one hand to the other2.3.A.b
  c
  Uses whole hand to pick up objects 2.3.A.c
  d
  Places objects on a surface2.3.A.d
  e
  Uses one finger to point, touch or activate a toy2.3.A.e
  f
  Picks up objects with fingertips rather than the palm2.3.A.f
  g
  Bangs two objects together2.3.A.g
  h
  Puts an object into a container2.3.A.h
  i
  Picks up small objects using first finger and thumb - pincer grasp2.3.A.i
Approximately 12-24 months
1. B
  Uses hand-eye coordination to perform simple self-help and small motor tasks:2.3.B
  a
  Turns pages in a board book2.3.B.a
  b
  Stacks 2-4 blocks 2.3.B.b
  c
  Purposefully fits one object into anothernesting2.3.B.c
  d
  Participates in dressing self2.3.B.d
  e
  Removes loose clothing2.3.B.e
  f
  Grasps writing utensils with whole hand and makes marks on paper2.3.B.f
Approximately 24-36 months
1. C
  Begins to coordinate small muscle movements to perform more complex selfhelp and small motor tasks:2.3.C
  a
  Uses hand to rotate objects2.3.C.a
  b
  Participates in activities that involve using both hands2.3.C.b
  c
  Strings large beads2.3.C.c
  d
  Manipulates puzzle pieces2.3.C.d
  e
  Demonstrates increasing independence with dressing and undressing2.3.C.e
Approximately 3-4 years
1. D
  Begins to demonstrate small muscle control with complex self-help and small motor tasks using both sides of the body together - crossing midline:2.3.D
  a
  Snips with scissors2.3.D.a
  b
  Draws lines and circles2.3.D.b
  c
  Grasps writing utensil with thumb and fingers2.3.D.c
  d
  Pulls zipper up or down when started by adult2.3.D.d
  e
  Fastens and unfastens snaps and buttons with adult support2.3.D.e
  f
  Puts on coat, jacket or shirt independently2.3.D.f
Approximately 4-5 years
1. E
  Demonstrates small muscle control with complex self-help and small motor tasks using both sides of the body together - crossing midline:2.3.E
  a
  Strings small beads2.3.E.a
  b
  Cuts shapes2.3.E.b
  c
  Draws figures with three or more body parts2.3.E.c
  d
  Attempts to zip zippers independently2.3.E.d
  e
  Fastens and unfastens some buttons2.3.E.e
  f
  Dresses or undresses self with minimal assistance2.3.E.f

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?: PRE-K
Where can I read the official document?: IOWA EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS 4th Edition June 2026

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