Occupational therapists who work with children are extremely knowledgeable in the areas of child development, and can assist children who are not meeting these milestones through individualized, targeted therapy. For these children, a full evaluation will be necessary to determine if the child could benefit from this type of therapy. This evaluation will provide insight into your child’s skills, and help formulate a targeted therapy plan to help them receive their full potential.
Read below for some of the critical developmental milestones you can look out for in your child:
Birth to 3 months:
Smiles at familiar faces
Follows moving toys with eyes
Able to lift head when lying on their stomach
Reaches for toys, rattles, etc.
3 to 6 months:
Turns head and moves eyes to voices or sounds
Rolls over from front-to-back and back-to-front
Holds toys, puts toys in mouth, can help hold the bottle during feedings
6 to 9 months:
Moves toys from one hand to the other
Can sit unassisted for five minutes
Imitates gestures
Emerging crawling ability
Self-feeds with finger foods
9 to 12 months:
Waves “bye bye”
Grabs small objects with thumb and index finger
Able to crawl, pull up on furniture
Emerging walking ability
12 to 24 months:
Walks independently, begins to run and walk up stairs
Helps around the house by picking up toys, etc.
Uses a spoon and can drink from cups independently
Can throw a ball
Can scribble on paper
2 to 3 years
Can jump with both feet
Can kick and throw a ball
Can dress themselves (with assistance for buttons/zippers)
3 to 5 years:
Can pedal and steer a tricycle
Can bathe themselves
Able to cut paper into 2 pieces, trace lines, etc.
Can unbutton buttons and zip zippers
If you have concerns about your child’s development, a full evaluation by an occupational therapist may indicate whether he or she can benefit from this therapy. This evaluation will provide insight into your child’s skills and help formulate a targeted therapy plan to help them receive their full potential!
