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Is my child’s development on track? Understanding milestones and knowing when to seek support

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It can be hard not to compare.

Your niece confidently climbs to the top of the playground while your child prefers to stay close to the ground. A friend’s toddler chats away in full sentences while your little one is still finding their words. Another child happily colours for twenty minutes while yours would rather build, run or explore.

As parents, it’s natural to wonder whether your child’s development is following a typical path.

Developmental milestones can be a helpful guide, but they are just that, a guide. Every child develops at their own pace, and there is a wide range of what is considered typical.

Rather than focusing on whether your child reaches a milestone on a particular birthday, it’s often more helpful to notice how they are progressing over time and how they participate in everyday life.

What are developmental milestones?Therapist supporting two children during a music-based play activity

Developmental milestones describe the skills that many children develop as they grow.

They provide a general picture of development across areas such as:

  • Communication
  • Movement
  • Learning and thinking
  • Play
  • Social relationships
  • Everyday independence

Milestones aren’t a test that children pass or fail. Instead, they help families and professionals recognise patterns of development and identify when a child might benefit from a little extra support.

Some children develop communication skills early but take longer with movement. Others may be physically adventurous while taking more time to develop language or social skills.

Different doesn’t automatically mean delayed.

When is it worth seeking advice?

Rather than looking for one missed milestone, it can be helpful to notice whether your child is continuing to develop new skills over time.

It may be worth speaking with your GP, Child Health Nurse or an allied health professional if your child:

  • isn’t continuing to develop new communication, movement or play skills
  • seems to become increasingly frustrated because they cannot communicate or participate in everyday activities
  • finds everyday routines such as mealtimes, dressing or play particularly difficult
  • appears to need more support than expected to participate in family life, early learning or community activities
  • loses skills they had previously developed.

Seeking advice doesn’t mean something is wrong.

Sometimes families simply gain reassurance. Other times, they receive practical strategies or support that helps their child continue learning in ways that work for them.

Looking at development across different ages

Every child follows their own developmental pathway, but these broad age ranges can help guide conversations.

Smiling young girl wearing a pink gingham dressBabies (0–12 months)

During the first year, babies are learning to connect with people, communicate, move and explore their environment.

It may be worth seeking advice if your baby:

  • isn’t responding consistently to sounds or familiar voices
  • isn’t showing interest in faces or interactions
  • isn’t beginning to babble or experiment with sounds
  • isn’t continuing to develop movement skills such as rolling, sitting or crawling.

Toddlers (1–3 years)

Toddlerhood is a time of enormous growth.

Children begin communicating in different ways, developing independence and exploring their world through play.

You might consider seeking advice if your toddler:

  • isn’t developing new ways to communicate through gestures, sounds or words
  • becomes regularly frustrated because they cannot communicate their needs
  • finds it difficult to participate in everyday routines such as eating, dressing or playing
  • isn’t continuing to develop movement skills or independence.

Every toddler communicates differently. Some use lots of words, while others rely more heavily on gestures or signs before spoken language develops.

The important question isn’t simply “How many words do they have?” but “How are they communicating and participating in everyday life?”

Preschoolers (3–5 years)

As children approach school age, they continue developing language, friendships, independence and problem-solving skills.

It may be helpful to seek advice if your child:

  • has difficulty communicating with unfamiliar people
  • finds it challenging to join in with other children
  • needs significant support with everyday activities that are becoming easier for other children their age
  • isn’t continuing to build new skills over time.

Again, development isn’t about every child doing exactly the same thing at exactly the same time. It’s about understanding how your child learns and whether they have the supports they need to participate confidently.

Different children need different supportsTherapists supporting young children during a play-based developmental activity

Sometimes a child benefits from support in one particular area. For example, they might need help developing communication skills, building confidence with movement, managing mealtimes or participating in social situations. Other children may have strengths in many areas while benefiting from support across several aspects of development.

There is no single developmental pathway, and there is no “perfect” timeline. The goal of therapy isn’t to make children fit a particular mould. It’s to build on their strengths, reduce barriers and help them participate meaningfully in the people, places and activities that matter most to them.

What happens if I’m concerned?

If you continue to have questions about your child’s development, talking with someone early can provide reassurance and clarity. Your GP, Child Health Nurse or allied health professional can help you understand what you’re seeing and whether any further assessment or support would be helpful.

An assessment isn’t about looking for what’s “wrong.” It’s about understanding your child’s unique strengths, identifying where they may benefit from additional support and working together to help them thrive.

We’re here to help

At Look Who’s Talking, we know that no two children are the same. Our speech pathologists, occupational therapists, music therapists and allied health assistants work alongside families to understand each child’s strengths, interests and goals. Together, we create practical, evidence-based supports that help children participate more confidently at home, in education settings and in the community. Whether you’re looking for reassurance, have noticed your child is developing differently, or simply want to better understand the next step, we’re here to support you.

Book an assessment or get in touch with our team – we’d love to help.

 

Disclaimer
All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice.

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