Motor development
We speak of a motor development delay when a child has not reached a milestone in their motor skills at the therefore designated age and when this causes problems in your child’s life. Pediatric physiotherapists can assess accurately the motor level of your child. Afterwards, treatment will focus on improving the motor skills of your child in a fun and educational way. Do you recognize your child, make an appointment!
Signals of motor development delay
Usually, the consultation office recognizes a motor development delay first on the basis of the Van Wiechen scheme. Motor development delays can also stand out at an older age, for example at school. Does the doctor or do you as parent have a suspicion of delayed motor development? Then a pediatric physiotherapist can be asked to have a look from an early stage. Further assessment can be done with measurement instruments and observations of spontaneous motor activity.
Signs at baby and toddler age
- Baby cannot lift head off of surface at 3 months.
- Baby does not grab at 5 months.
- Baby does not play with both hands at 6 months
- Baby does not roll at 8 months.
- Baby does not sit alone at 10 months
- Baby does not belly crawl, bottom-shuffle or crawls at 11 months
- Baby neemt geen steun op de beentjes bij 12 maanden
- Baby does not pull up to standing at 16 months
- Baby does not walk alone at 20 months
- Toddler does not climb at 24 months.
- Toddler is scared at the playground at 24 months (slide, sandpit, swing)
- Toddler does not play at 24 months.
Signs at primary school age
- Difficulties with running, jumping, hopscotch.
- Fear of heights, climbing and slides
- Difficulties learning to cycle with training wheels
- Not able to participate properly with gym, swimming and sports
- Ball skills develop slowly or fear of ball and ball sports
The procedure at the pediatric physiotherapist
We talk about a delay when a motor skill is not yet achieved when 85% of children the same age has achieved it. A motor skill test will always measure at one point in time. Therefore we look together with parents where the challenges are. The next step is a training program, with additional tips for parents. The child will be seen by the pediatric physiotherapist regularly and measurement test will be repeated to quantify progress.
