The University of Michigan Health System notes that developmental milestones act as key indicators for a child's health. During a child's developmental years, he will achieve the social, cognitive, linguistic and physical milestones that signify his state of physical and mental wellness. However, a child's exact pattern of development is as individual as his own fingerprint. Physical developmental milestones, which help to measure a child's physical strength and dexterity, generally indicate normal development of the muscles and central nervous system.
Types
Child development experts divide physical developmental milestones into two basic categories: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills involve the use of large groups of muscles, such as those found in the legs and torso. Important gross motor milestones are sitting, walking, running, jumping and balancing. Fine motor milestones include skills that involve the hands, fingers and other small sets of muscles. Clapping, stacking, scribbling and self-feeding are among the most developmentally indicative fine motor milestones.
Time Frame
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers basic guidelines regarding the normal development of gross motor skills and fine motor skills in children. By age 2, healthy children are usually able to walk alone, pull a toy, kick a ball and climb onto a piece of furniture. The AAP also notes that 2-year-olds have generally mastered a few fine motor milestones, like scribbling and stacking blocks. By 3 to 4 years of age, most children can throw a ball overhand, move backward, walk upstairs without support, use scissors and draw a square.
Significance
At each well-child visit, a pediatrician evaluates a child's physical development using professional guidelines. These milestones might confirm the health of the child's central nervous system and muscles. During an examination, the pediatrician might ask parents questions regarding the child's gross motor skills and fine motor skills. If the pediatrician recognizes symptoms of a delay in the child's physical development, she might refer the child to an expert for evaluation and treatment.
Considerations
Delays in a child's physical development are common and sometimes serious. If the child's developmental milestones occur significantly outside the normal range, a health practitioner might diagnose him with a gross motor delay, fine motor delay or global developmental delay. The University of Michigan recommends that families seek early intervention programs to maximize developmental progress in children with developmental delays. Physical therapy, home exercises and lifestyle adjustments might help children reach physical developmental milestones.
Misconceptions
In an effort to prevent delays in a child's physical developments, some parents and caregivers actually contribute to the problem. Contrary to popular belief, infant walkers and jumpers do not help a child learn to walk sooner. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns that they can weaken a child's leg muscles and impair coordination. Parents should also note that a child's physical development has little to do with his intelligence. Advanced physical development does not indicate intellectual prowess and delayed physical development does not preclude it.
