CHILDREN AND GROSS MOTOR DEVELOPMENT
Physical development occurs rapidly over the first few years of a child’s life. Infants are born to explore the world around them; Gross motor development plays an important role in allowing little ones to explore with everyday activities like sitting, crawling, walking, climbing, and running. Gross motor skills allow control of the muscles for large multi-joint movements. Babies learn from head to toe, first developing control of their neck and trunk then on to being able to control their arms. The process is the same for the lower body, learning to control their hips then legs then feet and eventually, their toes.
Sometimes, a child may be slow to learn a new skill and as a parent, it can be hard not to worry about your little one and their ability to reach a new milestone. The truth is that every child’s development is different, and these milestones are reached within a wide range of what is considered normal. Each child may have several contributing factors such as unique characteristics, the family’s values and culture, and access to available resources.
There are few things that help identify behavioral or developmental markers that could use further evaluation (see link below). While a single indicator is not always a sign for concern or referral, rather the functional impact of one or more indicators on the child’s everyday functioning and participation, should be taken into consideration. If you are curious or concerned about your baby’s development, our team of pediatric physiotherapists can assess your child’s motor development to provide guidance and a tailored program for you and your little one to help reach your specific goals!
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