Final answer:
A child should be able to consistently catch a ball by the age of five as their gross motor skills develop to allow for more coordinated activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In terms of gross motor skills, a child should be able to catch a ball with consistency by the age of five. At this stage of development, children can engage in more complex physical activities. They demonstrate the ability to skip on alternate feet, walk on a balance beam, turn somersaults, and importantly for this question, catch a ball thrown from a meter away with greater coordination. This development is part of the natural progression as children refine their motor skills and gain better control over their movements.