Most babies start jumping with both feet off the ground around 24 months (2 years old). This is one of the later gross motor milestones, requiring a combination of leg strength, balance, and coordination that takes time to develop. The CDC lists “jumps off the ground with both feet” as a milestone by 30 months, meaning most toddlers achieve it somewhere between their second and third birthdays.
How Jumping Skills Develop
Jumping doesn’t appear all at once. It builds through a progression of smaller skills that start well before a toddler actually leaves the ground. Around 18 months, most children are squatting, bouncing at the knees, and climbing onto low surfaces. These movements build the leg and core strength that jumping eventually requires.
Around age 2, jumping and climbing skills begin to emerge. Early attempts often look more like a forceful step than a real jump, with one foot leaving the ground before the other. As toddlers practice, they learn to bend both knees and push off with both feet simultaneously. Over the following months, they start jumping forward and down from low surfaces like curbs or the bottom step of a staircase.
Between ages 3 and 4, jumping becomes more controlled and versatile. Many children can hop on one foot, stand on one leg for longer periods, and jump over small obstacles. By ages 5 and 6, kids can hop in different directions and perform movements like jumping jacks that require coordinating arms and legs at the same time.
What Your Child’s Body Needs First
Jumping is the first time both feet leave the ground simultaneously, which makes it surprisingly demanding for a small body. Two things need to be in place before a toddler can pull it off.
Leg strength: Jumping uses all the major muscles in the legs. Toddlers need enough power in their thighs, glutes, and calves to bend their knees deeply and then push off through their toes. Activities like walking on tiptoes and squatting down to play help build this strength naturally.
Balance: Getting airborne is only half the challenge. Landing without toppling over requires dynamic balance, the ability to control the body while it’s in motion. Most toddlers first learn to do several small jumps in a row (using momentum to stay upright) before they can jump once and stop cleanly.
How High and How Far Toddlers Jump
If your child’s jumps look tiny, that’s completely normal. A study of preschool-age children found that the average 3-year-old jumps about 8 to 9 centimeters (roughly 3 to 3.5 inches) off the ground. By age 4, that increases to around 10 to 12 centimeters (about 4 to 5 inches). Boys and girls perform almost identically at these ages. The gains from year to year are real but modest, so don’t expect dramatic height until children are older and stronger.
Activities That Help Toddlers Learn to Jump
If your child is around 2 and showing interest in jumping but can’t quite get both feet off the ground, there are simple ways to help them practice the mechanics.
- Mini trampoline with a handlebar: The bouncy surface makes it easier to get airborne, and the handlebar lets your child use upper body strength for support while their legs catch up. You can also just hold their hands on a regular surface for the same effect.
- Frog jumps: Have your child squat all the way down like a frog, then push up from the ground with both feet. The deep squat gives them enough momentum to get both feet off the floor at the same time.
- Jumping down from a step: Start with a curb or the lowest step, holding both hands. The small drop helps your child practice takeoff mechanics without needing much forward power. Gradually reduce your support as they gain confidence.
- Jumping into something soft: A ball pit, a pile of cushions, or a splash pool lets your child focus on the two-foot takeoff without worrying about sticking the landing.
- Jumping over a flat object: Place something low on the floor, like a pool noodle or a piece of tape, and encourage your child to jump over it. Having a visible target helps them learn to propel themselves forward.
When Late Jumping Could Signal a Concern
There’s a wide range of normal. Some toddlers jump confidently at 22 months, while others don’t get there until closer to 30 months. According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, if your child isn’t jumping at 24 months, the first step is simply practicing at home with the activities above. If your child still isn’t jumping, running, or walking up and down stairs by 30 months, that’s the point to consider a physical therapy evaluation. A delay in jumping at that age doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong, but it can indicate that leg strength, coordination, or balance could use targeted support.