7 Developmental Milestones…. When should you seek advice?
As therapists we often get asked ‘is there a problem or will my child catch up with time?’
What we do know is that all children are unique and develop different skills at different speeds, but most children follow a similar developmental trajectory.
We believe that when assessing your child’s developmental milestones, you need to pay attention to 7 main areas:
Speaking
Understanding
Fine Motor Skills
Gross Motor Skills
Play Skills
Independence Skills
Self-Representation
Your child may be stronger in some areas but overall, they should be developing skills in all 7 domains. We have listed a range of skills that should be attained by a particular age.
If your child is missing a few, it is worth having a discussion with an Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language Therapist. Early intervention in a caring environment will help your child bridge the developmental gap and feel more comfortable among their peers.
References:
Berkshire Healthcare, Developmental Milestones, the School Years toolkit.
Developmental milestones and the Early Years Learning Framework
Karen Stagnitti; Pretend Play Enjoyment Developmental Checklist (2020)
Developmental Milestones Ages 4-8, CanChild, McMaster University 2013