Blog Post: Why Your Child’s Delay May Be More Critical Than You Know

In the recent months, we have been hearing about delayed milestones and a more “wait-and-see” approach. As a pediatric therapist and developmental expert, I think it’s critical to understand the underlying risks associated with this perspective. If you’re wondering more about our feelings and risks on wait and see, check out our previous blog here to learn 5 times when wait and see is definitely not the answer. Development runs so much deeper than just not sitting, crawling, or walking timely.

For the last several decades, research has supported the idea that children who were delayed early developed other delays later on. In addition, children diagnosed with conditions that affect development such as autism or cerebral palsy have retrospectively shown that they had delays in specific skills earlier on. So for example, in children who are not mobile, they learn less about cognitive skills such as cause and effect because they cannot independently explore and get into things. I’ve worked with more than one child whose parent has been astounded when they had to start child-proofing a home once we are able to make the child mobile! As a therapist, it makes me smile because I know that cognitive skills are blooming in that moment. Did you know the biggest brain development happens in the first 3 years of life? Another example—crawling affects visual input and visual development. Vision changes as the world around children moves, and we know that children with certain visual deficits are even able to develop some visual skills as they move through their environment.

So, as we move forward with the new milestones created by the CDC, I think it’s important parents understand those are the time frames at which MOST kids have developed the skill. However, it may miss the mark on critical skill develop and it is a ripple affect creating concerns in other areas. This ripple can show up as a greater disparity in learning readiness compared to peers when the child gets to school even. What’s the solution? Just like your pediatrician is an expert in global development needs and medical care, your local therapy and developmental team are experts in child development. We can help you identify early concerns and risks and create a simple and FUNctional play plan to help your child get and stay on track. You don’t trust your cardiac care to your gynecologist, do you? Shouldn’t your child’s development be assessed by developmental experts? If this is of interest to you—you’ve had concerns or just want a simplified fun plan to help your child develop in all areas, reach out to us today to set up an assessment and plan to keep your child on track and ready for whatever is next!