| AGE |
TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT |
WHEN TO CALL FOR HELP |
| By 3 MONTHS |
- Lifts and holds head up while on tummy
- Pushes up on arms while lying on tummy
- Moves legs and arms away from surface when lying on back
|
- Not able to follow a moving object with eyes
- Not able to grasp and hold objects
- Seems very stiff or very floppy
|
| By 6 MONTHS |
- Uses hands to support self while sitting
- Reaches for toys while on tummy
- Reaches both hands to play with feet
|
- Not able to sit using hands for support
- Poor head control and unable to lift head
- Not able to get objects to mouth
- Not able to reach for objects
|
| By 9 MONTHS |
- Reaches for toys without falling
- Turns head to look at and follow parent/objects
- Sits independently
- Can get into sitting position by themselves
- Sits without support
- Starting to crawl
|
- Needs assistance or uses hands to support sitting
- Olnly uses one side of the body when moving
- Consistently over or under-reaches for objects
- Falls when reaching for toys
|
| By 12 MONTHS |
- Able to grasp cheerio with finger and thumb
- Points with finger
- Bangs toys together
- Holds crayon in a fist
- Beginning to help with dressing
- Bites through a soft cookie
- Holds a cup independently
- Drinks with some spillage
- Begins to bring filled spoon to mouth
|
- Significant difficulty picking up and holding onto objects
- Not able to turn head to follow parent/object
- Play is limited to chewing and mouthing
- Frequently chokes when eating or drinking
- Favors one hand/arm
- Does not use thumb when grasping objects
- Hands are fisted most of the time
|
| By 18 MONTHS |
- Walks alone
- Helps with undressing
- Can build a tower of two to four blocks
- Can use a spoon and cup with help to feed self
- Can turn two or three pages of a book at a time
- Squats to pick up a toy
|
- Not able to pick up small objects between thumb and fingers
- Only uses one hand to complete tasks
- Has difficulty with chewing and swallowing
- Not able to feed self with spoon or fork
- Needs help to hold and drink from a cup
- Has difficulty letting go of object from hands
|
| by 24 MONTHS |
- Grasps small object between thumb and fingers
- Able to string large beads
- Able to bring spoon/fork to mouth with little spillage
- Able to drink from a cup
- Helps with undressing
- Plays appropriately with toys geared to child’s age
|
- Has significant difficulty picking up and grasping small objects.
- Explores objects with mouth most of the time
- Frequently loses balance in sitting when using hands
- Has significant difficulty playing with toys geared for his/her age e.g. can’t activate toys using fingers.
- Needs physical help to eat and drink
- Requires wheelchair or mobility device
- Requires orthotics/splints to manage arm/hand spasticity
|
| By 3 YEARS |
- Catches large balls and throws overhand
- Alternates feet when climbing stairs
- Puts together simple puzzles
- Able to grasp pencil between thumb and fingers
- Able to pick up and carefully let go a small object
- Able to use fork with little spillage
- Able to put arms in sleeves of jacket
- Undresses completely without assistance
|
- Needs special equipment and/or significant assistance to complete self help activities e.g. uses adapted cutlery to eat, needs bath chair to support sitting in tub.
- Needs specialized seating to support optimal positioning for play
- Requires wheelchair or mobility device
- Has significant difficulty playing with toys geared for his/her age
- Requires orthotics/splints to manage arm/hand spasticity
- Requires vehicle modification to support seating system.
- Has challenges with chewing and swallowing
|
| By 6 + YEARS |
- Can use utensils competently e.g. use a knife to cut and spread, cut a simple shape
- Throws with accuracy
- Kicks rolling ball
- Uses playground equipment independently
- Dresses and undresses independently
|
- Requires wheelchair or mobility device.
- Has significant difficulty using utensils e.g. cutlery, scissors and requires adaptive equipment.
- Requires specialized equipment to complete personal care e.g. specialized seating or bath/shower chair
- Requires full physical assistance of adult to transfer (moving from one position to another)
- Requires home modification (such as ceiling track, grab bars in bathroom)
- Requires orthotics/splints to manage arm/hand spasticity
|