Pediatric Development
Whether accommodating services for special needs or following injuries, our Pediatric Physical Therapists promote developmental growth and improve gross motor skills in children of all ages.
Whether accommodating services for special needs or following injuries, our Pediatric Physical Therapists promote developmental growth and improve gross motor skills in children of all ages.
What are Developmental Delays?
What are Developmental Delays?
The behavior of young children who display a slower rate of development, than other children of the same age, in essential mental and physical aspects is described as Developmental Delay. There is a wide range of different areas of development that a child can have delays in. This encompasses areas of movement (motor control), verbal, thinking, engagement in activities and play, or self-care skills.
Recognizing developmental delays or disabilities at an early age allows more effective and affordable treatment that may prevent further delays. Early intervention can also minimize the need for special-education services later on that grow increasingly more expensive in future years of childhood.
The delay’s in development a child experiences is specific and unique to each child. Through careful evaluation, our services are guided to accommodate the individual needs of your child.
“Approximately 14% of all toddlers and preschoolers in the United States are classified as having developmental delay.
However, as many as 1 in 4 children through the age of 5 are at risk for a developmental delay or disability.”
– Regina Harbourne, PT, PhD & Sandra Willett, PT, ChoosePT
The behavior of young children who display a slower rate of development, than other children of the same age, in essential mental and physical aspects is described as Developmental Delay. There is a wide range of different areas of development that a child can have delays in. This encompasses areas of movement (motor control), verbal, thinking, engagement in activities and play, or self-care skills.
Recognizing developmental delays or disabilities at an early age allows more effective and affordable treatment that may prevent further delays. Early intervention can also minimize the need for special-education services later on that grow increasingly more expensive in future years of childhood.
The delay’s in development a child experiences is specific and unique to each child. Through careful evaluation, our services are guided to accommodate the individual needs of your child.
“Approximately 14% of all toddlers and preschoolers in the United States are classified as having developmental delay.
However, as many as 1 in 4 children through the age of 5 are at risk for a developmental delay or disability.”
– Regina Harbourne, PT, PhD & Sandra Willett, PT, ChoosePT
How Can a Physical Therapist Help?
Your physical therapist will first evaluate your child, conducting an appropriate and detailed test to determine the child’s specific strengths and weaknesses. Your physical therapist will discuss your observations and concerns with you. If your child is diagnosed as having developmental delay, your physical therapist will problem-solve with you about your family’s routines and environment to find ways to enhance and build your child’s developmental skills.
In addition to evaluating your child and the environment in which the child moves, the physical therapist can give detailed guidance on building motor skills 1 step at a time to reach established goals.
The therapist may guide the child’s movements or provide cues to help the child learn a new way to move. For example, if a child is having a hard time learning to
pull herself up to a standing position, the physical therapist might show her how to lean forward and push off her feet. If a child cannot balance while standing, the physical therapist may experiment with various means of support, so he can safely learn new ways to stand.
Your physical therapist will first evaluate your child, conducting an appropriate and detailed test to determine the child’s specific strengths and weaknesses. Your physical therapist will discuss your observations and concerns with you. If your child is diagnosed as having developmental delay, your physical therapist will problem-solve with you about your family’s routines and environment to find ways to enhance and build your child’s developmental skills.
In addition to evaluating your child and the environment in which the child moves, the physical therapist can give detailed guidance on building motor skills 1 step at a time to reach established goals.
The therapist may guide the child’s movements or provide cues to help the child learn a new way to move. For example, if a child is having a hard time learning to pull herself up to a standing position, the physical therapist might show her how to lean forward and push off her feet. If a child cannot balance while standing, the physical therapist may experiment with various means of support, so he can safely learn new ways to stand.
The physical therapist will also teach the family what they can do to help the child practice skills during everyday activities. The most important influence on the child is the family, because they can provide the opportunities needed to achieve each new skill.
Your physical therapist will explain how much practice is needed to help achieve a particular milestone. A child learning how to walk, for example, covers a lot of ground during the day; your physical therapist can provide specific advice on the amount and type of activities appropriate for your child at each stage of development.
The physical therapist will also teach the family what they can do to help the child practice skills during everyday activities. The most important influence on the child is the family, because they can provide the opportunities needed to achieve each new skill.
Your physical therapist will explain how much practice is needed to help achieve a particular milestone. A child learning how to walk, for example, covers a lot of ground during the day; your physical therapist can provide specific advice on the amount and type of activities appropriate for your child at each stage of development.
Gross vs. Fine Motor Skills
Gross motor skills also require motor planning—that is, the ability to think through and act upon a plan for motion. A child with poor motor planning abilities may have the strength and muscle tone to climb the ladder of a slide, for example, but may not be able to do so because of an inability to place his feet in the right spots and in the right order to reach the top.
Gross motor skills are distinguished from fine motor skills—the ability to use hands and feet for complex, small muscle activities. So, for example, while gross motor skills involve running and jumping, fine motor skills are used for such activities as writing and drawing.
While these sets of skills may appear similar, they are actually controlled by different parts of the brain.
Gross motor skills also require motor planning—that is, the ability to think through and act upon a plan for motion. A child with poor motor planning abilities may have the strength and muscle tone to climb the ladder of a slide, for example, but may not be able to do so because of an inability to place his feet in the right spots and in the right order to reach the top.
Gross motor skills are distinguished from fine motor skills—the ability to use hands and feet for complex, small muscle activities. So, for example, while gross motor skills involve running and jumping, fine motor skills are used for such activities as writing and drawing.
While these sets of skills may appear similar, they are actually controlled by different parts of the brain.
Goals & Milestones
We provide assessments and consultation services for infants and toddlers to determine if there are delays and impairments. We work closely with families to provide treatment through parent coaching and neuro-developmental treatment techniques. Our goal is to help each child with a motor or developmental impairment reach his or her maximum potential. This includes working with the family to develop an appropriate home program, referral to community resources, and coordination of services with other agencies.
Please contact us if you have concerns about your child’s development.
At Valley Kids, we provide assessments and consultation services for infants and toddlers to determine if there are delays and impairments. We work closely with families to provide treatment for their child through parent coaching and neurodevelopmental treatment techniques.
Our goal is to help each child with a motor or developmental impairment reach his or her maximum potential. This includes working with the family to develop an appropriate home program, a referral to community resources, and coordination of services with other agencies.
Please contact us if you have concerns about your child’s development.