Every child grows at their own pace. At the same time, experts have defined certain developmental milestones, encompassing motor, cognitive, and emotional skills, to help parents know if their child is developing as expected. If your child has missed a key motor milestone, pediatric physical therapy at Delmarva Physical Therapy can help.
Just like physical therapists who work with adults, pediatric physical therapists are movement experts with a strong understanding of the body’s musculoskeletal system. However, we also understand that children aren’t simply little adults; their musculoskeletal systems have unique qualities that we need to consider.
For that reason, pediatric physical therapy is essential in helping kids struggling with gross motor skills, including rolling over, sitting up, walking, and running. We can help identify the cause of their difficulty and provide fun, playful activities to improve their skills.
Keep reading to learn more about how we help children in the Berlin, MD area achieve their developmental milestones!
What Are Some of the Key Motor Milestones To Watch Out For?
The easiest way to see if your child is developing as expected is to track when they hit different milestones. For example, your child should be able to…
- Hold their head up while on their tummy at two months old
- Roll from their tummy to their back at six months old
- Pull themselves up to stand and cruise around at one year old
- Run and walk up a few stairs without assistance at two years old
These time frames are rough guidelines–some kids will develop a little earlier, and some a little later. But if they’re several months past a milestone, it’s time to visit the team at Delmarva Physical Therapy so we can start building those motor skills.
How Pediatric Physical Therapy Helps Improve Motor Development
First, we’ll help determine why your child is struggling with motor skills. There are many reasons why this might be the case. Often, motor difficulties are the first sign of a muscular or nerve disorder (like cerebral palsy). Other times, it might stem from a developmental disorder, such as autism.
Once we understand the root cause, we’ll create a personalized program to improve your child’s motor skills. We’ll consider the causes of your child’s motor difficulties, but we’ll also consider their age and interests. Why? Because we want your child’s session to be fun!
Pediatric physical therapy uses play as the foundation for our treatment. Play is how children learn, and we strive to create an environment where your child can explore and move in a way that feels good to them. For older kids, we’ll supplement playtime with tailored stretches and other exercises.
Ultimately, we’ll work to improve your child’s strength, balance, coordination, and endurance so they can thrive at home, at school, and during playtime.
Request an Appointment To Find Out More About Pediatric Physical Therapy
If you’re concerned about your child’s motor development–or if your child has a condition that impacts their motor development–pediatric physical therapy may be the answer! Schedule an appointment for an initial consultation today.
