ErinoakKids - Typical Development and When to Call For Help

Typical Development and When to Call For Help

Developmental milestones are important age-specific skills that are used to help check on how your child is developing.

Below we've listed some milestones that are commonly seen in most typically developing children and when to call for help if your child is not reaching certain milestones.

You are your child's best advocate. If you have any concerns about your child's development, don't hesitate to seek help from your pediatrician or contact our intake services for more information.

Typical Development:

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

When To Call For Help:

Not able to follow a moving object with eyes
Not able to grasp and hold objects
Seems very stiff or very floppy

Typical Development:

Uses hands to support self while sitting
Reaches for toys while on tummy
Reaches both hands to play with feet

When To Call For Help:

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

Typical Development:

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

When To Call For Help:

Needs assistance or uses hands to support sitting
Only uses one side of the body when moving
Consistently over or under-reaches for objects
Falls when reaching for toys

Typical Development:

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

When To Call For Help:

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

Typical Development:

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

When To Call For Help:

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

Typical Development:

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

When To Call For Help:

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

Typical Development:

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

When To Call For Help:

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

Typical Development:

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

When To Call For Help:

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

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