Important Physical Therapy Milestones For Your Child’s Development

The first several years of a child’s life are typically characterized by numerous physical and behavioral signs of development.

As parents, we anxiously await these milestones and celebrate their arrival.

For the most part, these milestones occur in a predictable timeline.

However, some children, such as those with developmental disabilities, struggle to meet the milestones associated with their age.

If your child is struggling to meet their physical therapy milestones, we can help.

We’re Triumph Therapeutics, a Washington DC physical therapist for kids with a special interest in developmental delays therapy for kids.

Keep reading to learn more about physical therapy milestones and how our expert staff at Triumph Therapeutics can help.

What Is A Physical Therapy Milestone?

A physical therapy milestone is a type of developmental milestone associated with the development of motor coordination skills, such as:

• Gross and fine motor skills
• Jumping and hopping
• Throwing and catching
• Drawing and writing

Like other developmental milestones, physical therapy milestones typically occur in a predictable timeline.

Let’s take a look at some of the physical therapy milestones that you can expect to see in your child.

What Pediatric Physical Therapy Milestones Should My Child Be Reaching?

The following timeline provides a general guideline for expected milestone development.

Age Three Months

By three months of age, your baby should be able to:

• Raise their head while laying on their stomach
• Stretch and kick their legs while laying on their back
• Open and shut their hands
• Bring their hands to their mouth

Failure to achieve these milestones may lead to:

• Poor muscle development
• Difficulty with independent play

Age Four Months

By four months of age, your baby should be able to:

• Roll over, which improves their sleep quality
• Sit up with support
• Reach with both hands
• Transfer objects from hand to hand

Failure to achieve these milestones may lead to:

• Poor muscle development
• Difficulty with independent play

Age Ten Months

By ten months of age, your baby should be able to:

• Crawl on their belly
• Sit up independently
• Transition into different positions, such as sitting, all fours, and lying on tummy
• Pull their self up to stand
• Walk while holding onto furniture and take a few steps without support

Failure to achieve these milestones may lead to:

• Delayed sensory development due to inability to play with toys
• Poor muscle development
• Delayed play skills

Age One Year

By age one, your child should be able to:

• Stand without support
• Sit, crawl, and walk
• Push against toys, such as balls
• Carry toys while walking

Failure to achieve these milestones may lead to:

• Delayed play skills
• Difficulty interacting with the environment
• Poor muscle development

Age Two Years

By age two, your child should be able to:

• Walk and turn corners smoothly
• Run
• Pull and carry toys while walking
• Climb on and off furniture without assistance
• Go up and down stairs without support
• Pick up toys from the floor without falling over

Failure to achieve these milestones may lead to:

• Poor muscle development
• Delayed ability to play independently and interact with the environment
• Decreased social skills

Age Three Years

By age three, your child should be able to:

• Stand on one foot
• Simultaneously move both arms and legs
• Climb jungle gym and ladders
• Pedal on a tricycle
• Walk up and down stairs by alternating their feet
• Jump in place
• Walk on their tip toes

Failure to achieve these milestones may lead to:

• Decreased social interactions
• Poor development of body awareness and movement planning skills
• Difficulties using toys and playgrounds
• Lack of confidence

Age Four Years

By age four, your child should be able to:

• Stand on one foot for five seconds
• Kick a ball forward
• Throw a ball overarm
• Catch a bounced ball
• Run around obstacles
• Walk in a straight line
• Hop on one foot
• Jump over objects while landing on both feet

Failure to achieve these milestones may lead to:

• Lack of confidence in movement based activities
• Difficulties using toys and playgrounds
• Lack of confidence in social interactions

Age Five Years

By age five, your child should be able to:

• Walk up stairs while holding an object
• Walk backward
• Jump forward without falling
• Hang from monkey bars
• Catch a small ball with only their hands

Failure to achieve these milestones may lead to:

• Poor self esteem
• Lack of confidence in movement based activities
• Difficulties participating in sports
• Difficulties playing with moving toys, such as bikes and scooters

What If My Child Isn’t Meeting These Milestones?

It’s important to note that every child is different and will develop at their own pace.

Therefore, it isn’t unusual for a child to reach their milestones slightly later than their peers.

However, significant delays in milestone development may indicate an underlying condition, such as a developmental disability.

That’s where we come in.

Book Your Appointment With Triumph Therapeutics Today

If your child is falling significantly behind in their milestone development, we can help.

At Triumph Therapeutics, we offer expert services to help your child’s developmental milestones get back on track.

Don’t hesitate to book an appointment to learn more.

Book your appointment with Triumph Therapeutics today to get started.