Abstract: Objective To explore the characteristics of gross motor development in 1～6-year-old children with cerebral palsy at different levels. Methods 708 children (487 males and 221 females, age range: 1～6 years, from 6 rehabilitation centers in Shanghai) with cerebral palsy (CP) were assessed with Chinese version of Gross Motor Function Classification System （GMFCS） and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). Distributions of GMFM scores at different GMFCS levels in children with cerebral palsy were analyzed. Results The GMFM-66 scores increased most in children with GMFCS Level Ⅰ, and more than 75% of them would be greater than 67 points in GMFM-66 score after the age of 48～50 months. The children with GMFCS Level Ⅱ～Ⅳ appeared similar increasing range of GMFM-66 scores in 1～6 years old. Less than 25% of the children at GMFCS Level Ⅱ would be greater than 67 points in GMFM-66 score before the age of 6 years, more than 50% of those at GMFCS Level Ⅲ would be less than 56 points, more than 75% of those at GMFCS Level Ⅳ couldn't exceed 46 points （except groups of 54～56 months and 66～68 months）. Compared with the children with other GMFCS levels, the GMFM-66 scores were always at very low level in children with GMFCS Level V, and trended to decrease with time after 5 years old. Conclusion The characteristics of gross motor development are different in children with cerebral palsy at different GMFCS levels.

Key words: cerebral palsy, gross motor, function, development, classification