Is My Child Developmentally Delayed?
A Comprehensive Guide to Answer this Important Question
As a advocate for children's development, particularly those with special needs, I noticed recently that there are no resources online for parents to answer a pivotal question: “How do I know if my child is developmentally delayed?” Understanding and tracking developmental milestones is not just a professional passion but a personal one, influenced by the pioneering work of my grandfather, Glenn Doman. In this article, I will cover why it’s important to track developmental milestones, what are the milestones to look out for at specific ages, and will conclude by telling you what to do if your child is developmentally delayed.
Why It’s Important to Track Children’s Developmental Milestones
In the journey of childhood development, every milestone serves as a crucial checkpoint. These markers are invaluable as they help us monitor a child's growth and ensure they are on the path to achieving their fullest potential. But why exactly should we pay such close attention to these milestones? The reason is twofold: monitoring and support. Monitoring allows us to observe if a child is reaching developmental stages at the expected times, which is especially crucial for children who might be at risk of developmental delays.
Support, on the other hand, is proactive. When we notice a child lagging behind, we can tailor our approach to their specific needs. This might mean needing to provide extra stimulation for a child. Early detection of delays can lead to interventions that may significantly alter a child's developmental trajectory.
Glenn Doman and the Developmental Profile
My grandfather, Glenn Doman, a visionary in the field of early child development, established methods and tools that have transformed how we support early childhood development. His creation of the Developmental Profile was revolutionary. This tool not only categorizes developmental milestones into major functional areas—such as sensory abilities like vision and hearing and motor skills like mobility and manual competence—but also provides a framework for evaluating children from birth to six years of age.
Glenn's extensive travel to over 100 countries to study child development informed his understanding that while cultural differences exist, the fundamental aspects of how children develop are remarkably similar worldwide. This universality underscores the applicability of the Developmental Profile across diverse backgrounds, making it a global standard for assessing child development.
Understanding and Tracking Milestones
The Developmental Profile is not just a tool for assessment; it is a roadmap for intervention. Below, I'm going to talk about the milestones to observe as a child develops. It's important to understand that each child progresses at their own pace, and it’s crucial not to overvalue a child's developmental milestones. Just because a child might be delayed by a month or two in a specific ability doesn’t mean there is anything drastically terrible about their development.
Recognizing milestones allows us to identify if a child might need support in certain areas. This is the real value of understanding a child's Developmental Profile.
Developmental Milestones at 7 Months of Age
At seven months old, babies are deep into the discovery phase, engaging more actively with their surroundings and showing rapid developmental changes. This age marks several crucial advancements:
Sensory and Cognitive Development: Babies at 7 months of age begin to show greater responsiveness to their environment. They can recognize familiar faces and may start to understand emotional expression. For example, they will smile when they see their parent smile, or frown when their parent frowns. This recognition is fundamental for emotional bonding and social interaction.
Motor Skills: Physically, seven-month-olds are improving their coordination. A child who is 7 months old should be able to creep on their hands and knees. Many can sit without support and begin to explore using their hands and mouth, which are part of their learning tools. Babies at this age should be able to grasp objects and pick them up.
Communication: This is a vibrant time for vocalization. Babies at this age often engage in babbling and can produce a chain of sounds, like "baba" or "dada," which form the foundations of later speech. They react to other people’s conversations by vocalizing sounds back, showing the early stages of conversational skills.
Developmental Milestones at 12 Months of Age
By the time a child reaches one year, they are usually ready to hit significant developmental milestones:
Motor Skills: Most one-year-olds start to walk/take their first independent steps. This development is crucial for subsequent motor skills and independence.
Language Skills: Children at this age typically speak their first words. While this may vary from child to child, common words include "mama" or "dada." They begin to understand simple instructions and can recognize names of familiar objects.
Social Development: At this age, children show preferences for certain people and toys. They may exhibit anxiety around strangers, a normal part of their social development, indicating they recognize and prefer familiar faces.
Developmental Milestones at 18 Months of Age
Eighteen months is a period of rich development, particularly in terms of language and social interaction:
Language Skills: Children begin to accumulate vocabulary rapidly, saying as many as 10 to 25 words. They can also start to combine two words, like "more milk," indicating the beginnings of sentence construction.
Motor Skills: At this stage, children can walk with better balance, both indoors and outdoors. They can pick up objects using the “pincer grasp” with both hands. The pincer grasp is the ability to pick up tiny objects and pieces of food with your thumb and index finger.
Cognitive Skills: They are better able to follow simple instructions and can solve problems in their play, such as working out how to retrieve a toy that is out of reach using a stool or another object.
Developmental Milestones at 3 Years of Age
By the age of three, children are entering a vibrant phase of development that is both exciting and transformative. At this stage, children are expected to show significant growth in several key areas, including language, cognitive abilities, and motor skills.
Language and Communication: Three-year-olds are typically able to speak in short sentences and are rapidly expanding their vocabulary. At this age, children should be able to communicate their needs more clearly, ask simple questions, and even engage in basic conversations.
Cognitive Development: This is a critical period for cognitive development, where children begin to recognize numbers and letters. They can follow multiple-step instructions like, “Go to your room, get the ball and bring it to me.” Three-year-olds are able to negotiate and make deals to get the things they want!
Motor Skills: In terms of physical development, three-year-olds are able to run at least 20 meters without stopping. Fine motor skills improve, leading to the child being able to unscrew a cap off a bottle, take a cap off a pen and pour water from one cup to another.
Developmental Milestones at 6 Years of Age
By six years, children are usually ready to start school and are developing complex skills that will aid them in academic settings:
Cognitive Skills: Six-year-olds can follow more complex instructions and handle multiple tasks more efficiently. They show an understanding of everyday concepts like time. They are able to read familiar words and sometimes even sentences.
Language Skills: Their vocabulary is extensive, and they can construct full sentences with proper grammar. They understand and can tell stories, an essential skill for literacy and social interaction.
Motor Skills: Children can engage in activities that require coordination, such as swimming, riding bicycles, or playing team sports. A six-year-old is able to hop on one foot. Fine motor skills are also refined enough for them to write, draw, and do crafts with precision.
Social and Emotional Development: Six-year-olds are increasingly independent and can manage their feelings better. They understand rules, can cooperate with peers, and are developing the ability to resolve conflicts through negotiation rather than direct adult intervention.
These detailed milestones for each stage from 7 months to 6 years provide a roadmap for parents and caregivers to support and enhance the development of their children, ensuring that each child is given the opportunity to reach their full potential in every aspect of growth. At Doman International, we are committed to providing the tools and resources needed to guide and enrich this journey.
Glenn Doman’s Programs for Children with Special Needs
Beyond observing and documenting, Glenn Doman was passionate about action. He developed programs specifically designed for children with developmental challenges. These programs, built on the principles of neuroplasticity, offer hope and practical solutions to families seeking to maximize their child's developmental outcomes. These interventions are tailored to meet each child where they are, helping them to advance beyond perceived limitations and achieve remarkable growth.
Understanding and supporting childhood development through these critical early years is more than a professional endeavor—it is a commitment to future generations. At Doman International, we are dedicated to continuing my grandfather's legacy, providing children and families with the tools and support they need to thrive. For those looking to learn more or seek assistance, I encourage you reach out by filling out our contact form. Here's to nurturing every child's potential, one milestone at a time.