Gross Motor Skills: Help Your Child Catch Up To Their Peers
Aiden (not his real name) was having trouble walking. While most children have taken their first step by the time they’re a year old, Aiden, at nearly two years old, was still only crawling. Concerned that his delayed gross motor skills could indicate a serious underlying issue, Aiden’s parents brought him to Skills on the Hill.
Our pediatric therapists conducted a thorough evaluation and found that Aiden had benign congenital hypotonia–low muscle tone. This made it harder for Aiden to move himself around, which was why he hadn’t started walking yet.
Now that we knew why Aiden’s walking skills were delayed, we could work on addressing the issue. In Aiden’s case, our pediatric therapists showed him fun, playful exercises that helped strengthen his muscles and gave him the confidence to take his first step.
As this story illustrates, understanding your child’s developmental milestones is crucial in catching health concerns before they become a problem. Today, we want to explore your child’s gross motor skills, which control big movements like walking, running, and playing.
Delayed gross motor skills can profoundly impact your child’s quality of life–but our Washington, DC and Arlington, VA – based pediatric therapists can help find a solution that works for your family.
Delayed Gross Motor Skills: When To Seek Pediatric Therapy
Developmental milestones are significant moments in your child’s life. They touch on all areas of your child’s growth and indicate that your child is developing at the same rate as their peers.
It is important to remember that every child is different, and some may develop a bit faster or slower than others. This isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. But a significant delay means you should probably check in with a pediatric therapist, who can assess your child, identify any underlying causes, and help address the delay.
Here are some of the key gross motor milestones you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
At two months, your child should be able to…
- Hold up their head when they’re on their tummy.
- Move both their arms and legs.
At six months, your child should be able to…
- Roll from their tummy onto their back.
- Push themselves up on their arms when lying on their tummy.
At one year, your child should be able to…
- Pull themselves up to stand.
- “Cruise,” meaning they can walk while holding onto furniture.
At two years, your child should be able to…
- Run.
- Walk up a few stairs without help.
Our therapists suggest you familiarize yourself with critical gross motor developmental milestones (such as crawling, walking, running, and so forth). As your child hits each one, record the date for posterity! Not only are you keeping an eye on your child’s development, but you’re also celebrating every time your child learns something new.
My Child Missed a Milestone. Now What?
If you suspect your child has delayed gross motor skills, the first thing you should do is not panic. There are many reasons a child might miss a developmental milestone, which is why it’s essential that the second thing you do is make an appointment at Skills on the Hill. Our pediatric therapists can help you understand why your child is having difficulties.
We’ll thoroughly evaluate your child’s current gross motor skills. We do this primarily by taking a complete health history from you and by observing your child as they play. This helps us understand your child’s situation so we can work to pinpoint an underlying cause.
Some of the common reasons a child may lag in gross motor skill development include the following:
- Genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome
- Nerve or muscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy
- Developmental conditions, such as autism
- Weakened muscles due to premature birth or other causes
When a gross motor delay indicates a serious underlying disorder, we’ll serve as part of your child’s care team, working alongside their pediatrician and other specialists to provide comprehensive care.
Our role as pediatric therapists is to help your child improve their gross motor skills, regardless of the reason for their delay. We’ll tailor the treatment plan to their needs, focusing on the areas where they need improvement. For example, we can help your child…
- Build muscular strength
- Improve muscular stamina
- Improve balance and coordination
How do we accomplish this? Through play! Playtime is essential for children to develop gross motor skills. We might set up a fun obstacle course, teach your child how to skip rope, or toss your child a ball.
Request an Appointment Today
Do you want more personalized guidance about how Skills on the Hill helps kids in the Washington, DC, and Arlington, VA area with delayed gross motor skills? Request an appointment today!