Physicians use developmental markers, called milestones, to determine whether your child is acquiring certain expected skills. You also gauge development when you watch your toddler in a group and compare his conversation or ability to use scissors with other children his age. Working in tandem with your child's physician to monitor progress can help answer questions you might have about whether your toddler acts "normally" compared with others.
Development
Development refers to the skills a child conquers as she ages, according to the University of Michigan Health Systems, or UMHS. Early childhood development includes gross motor skills, such as hopping and running, and fine motor skills used for activities, including drawing or eating. Cognitive skills, such as solving where puzzle pieces fit, also progress rapidly during early childhood. Doctors and other professionals include your child's ability to communicate thoughts or ideas, expressive language, and understand others, receptive language, as well as social interactions to gauge development.
Normal Milestones
Developmental milestones are standardized written guidelines that indicate an average age at which children typically master certain skills. Physicians use these guidelines to assess whether your child's development is falling within normal ranges. The experts at the March of Dimes Foundation, however, encourage parents to remember that no two children develop exactly alike. Noting, for instance, that approximately 50 percent of babies walk by their first birthday yet doctors consider walking any time between 9 and 16 months normal. Your family doctor can supply guidance and written information regarding expectations for reaching milestones.
Assessing Development
During well -child checks and other routine office visits, physicians typically observe, ask questions and examine your child with milestones in mind as they determine your child's progress. For instance, according to the guidelines, doctors expect your 1-month-old baby to bring her hands near her face regularly, reach out for objects by 7 months and hold objects between her thumb and forefinger in a pincer grasp by 12 months. Doctors also rely heavily on parental observation to provide specifics about a child's ability as well. For example, your child may, understandably, avoid reaching for objects in an unfamiliar doctor's office but eagerly go after the toy you hold out at home.
Developmental Delay
The UMHS defines developmental delay as an ongoing minor or major delay in progress rather than a temporary lag in development. Delays can occur in language skills, motor skills or social skills and may involve just one area or all three. Parents typically notice a delay first but physicians sometimes see signs during an office visit. Suspected delays may require evaluations by other professionals, such as speech and language therapists or comprehensive screening through school-based programs.
Considerations
Noting that the sooner a child gets help the better the outcome, the UMHS recommends you seek intervention early by talking with your physician if you think your child is experiencing a delay. Writing for the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, Barbara Popper suggests parents look for assessment programs that help you understand the nature of the delay and give you adequate information regarding measures and available resources to help your child reach his full developmental potential.
References
- University of Michigan Health System: Developmental Milestones
- March of Dimes: What is Normal Development
- University of Michigan Health System: Developmental Delay
- Zero to Three National Center for Infants: Tips for Your Child's Developmental Assessment
- March of Dimes: Developmental Milestones for Babies
