Motor skills are all of the large and small movements that your child uses to make her way around in the world and to explore it. Exhibiting those skills more slowly than other children tend to do is called a delay in motor skill development.
Most Kids Develop Motor Skills at Specific Ages
The normal development of motor skills can really be up for debate. Most kids are developing specific sets of motor skills at certain ages, which is where the idea of a “normal” rate comes from in the first place. If your child isn’t reaching those milestones, such as reaching for objects by a four or five months old, you might start to wonder if she’s experiencing a delay in her motor skills.
Reasons for Delays
The reasons for these types of delays are as different as the children who experience them. If your child was born with cerebral palsy, for example, that can cause significant motor skills delays. Some premature babies don’t develop muscle strength at the same rate as other children, which can cause delays. Your child may also simply be more cautious than other children her age, making her less likely to hit those milestones “on time.”
Talk to Your Pediatrician
If you’re wondering if your child is experiencing motor skill developmental delays, it’s best to start with your pediatrician. Your pediatrician can look into the potential causes and help you to find solutions. If necessary, specialized testing can look into the situation on a deeper level to get you the answers that you need.
Look for Ways to Help Develop those Skills
Playing with your child can help her to start developing those motor skills more quickly, but if your child has special needs, she may need special help. Working with physical therapists and pediatric home care providers can all fit together into a care plan that meets your child’s specific needs. As she masters certain skills, she may catch up to her peers or continue to need extra guidance.
Keep track of each milestone as your child reaches it to gauge how your child is adapting to treatments.
If you or a loved one are considering Pediatric Home Care Services in Florida City FL, contact the caring staff at Providence Healthcare Services. We provide services in all of Miami Dade county and the Upper Keys. Call today (305) 680-5349.
