Understanding Developmental Milestones and the Role of Physiotherapy in Child Development
At Klint Kids we focus on nurturing the health and development of children. As parents and caregivers, one of our primary concerns is ensuring that children are hitting their developmental milestones. These milestones are important indicators of a child’s growth and development. Understanding these benchmarks and the potential role of physiotherapy can significantly contribute to a child’s well-being.
What Are Developmental Milestones?
Developmental milestones are a set of functional skills or age-specific tasks that most children can do at a certain age range. These milestones are grouped into several key domains:
- Gross Motor Skills: These involve large muscle activities like crawling, walking, and jumping.
- Fine Motor Skills: These include smaller actions such as picking up objects between the thumb and finger, drawing, and writing.
- Language Skills: These are associated with both understanding and producing language, including talking, understanding words, and following instructions.
- Cognitive Skills: These involve learning, thinking, and problem-solving.
- Social and Emotional Skills: These pertain to a child’s ability to interact with others, express emotions, and develop relationships.
Typical Milestones to Watch For
While every child develops at their own pace, there are typical age ranges when most children achieve certain milestones. Gross motor skills are often a first milestones that parents notice and this can be the right time to reach out for some advice. Here are a few examples:
- By 6 -8 months: Most babies can roll over, sit without support, and begin to babble.
- By 12 months: Many children are able to stand unsupported, say their first words, and respond to simple requests.
- By 2 years: Children often can walk, run, and start to form simple sentences.
- By 3 years: Most can climb well, speak in full sentences, and play make-believe games.