0-2 months:

• Able to lie on their stomach for short periods of time holding their head up to 45 degrees
• Able to roll from their back to either their right or left side

3-5 months:

• Holds head in line with their body in supported sit
• Sits with hand support
• Brings hands to midline when on their back
• Kicking legs out one at a time

6-8 months:

• Rolls from back to stomach and vice-versa
• Sits independently

9-11 months:

• Transitions from lying down to sitting using arms
• Assumes hand and knee position
• Begins to crawl on hands and knees (backwards first)

12-15 months:

• Pulls to stand at furniture
• Cruises while holding onto furniture
• Stands alone
• Walks on flat surfaces

15-18 months:

• Creeps on hands and knees up and down steps
• Rolls and throws a ball
• Walks into a large ball to kick it
• Gets on and off push toys (may move them backwards at first)
• Gets up from the floor using hands to assist

19-24 months:

• Walks up and down a few stairs with assistance
• Jumps off ground with two feet
• Begins to run
• Walks over all surfaces without frequent loss of balance

3 years:

• Catches a ball with two hands
• Walks up and down stairs independently (two feet on each step)
• Jumps off bottom step
• Jumps over small objects
• Pedals a tricycle or ride on bike

4 years:

• Hops on one foot
• Goes up and down stairs with one foot on each step (using handrail)
• Begins to play simple gross motor games easily (3 step directions)

5 years:

• Bounces and catches a ball
• Skips
• Gallops
• Follows a 4-5 step gross motor sequence
• Rides two wheel bike with no training wheels

Early Treatment Offers Better Results

It's never too early to begin occupational therapy and or physical therapy. Early therapeutic intervention helps stimulate normal development, reinforces a healthy self-concept and promotes emotional maturation. Therapy for children and adolescents can increase independence, mobility and social adjustment.

Doctors often recommend physical therapy for kids who may be recovering from an injury or who have mobility problems from an illness or childhood disability. If a child has a sports injury, quick access to medical services and therapy will potentially speed up the recovery process.  Early exercise therapy enables young people to experience a rapid recovery and a safe return to normal activities or sports.

Use of physical therapy

 Physical Therapist use a variety of exercises to help build muscle, improve movement and flexibility and strengthen skills needed to complete daily activities.

Working with a Physical Therapist

A physical therapist, after a thorough analysis, suggests the rehabilitation course. Physical therapy provides proven health benefits and is an effective means to help children regain physical mobility and obtain optimal strength and flexibility.  As with all children the key to sustaining healthy activity levels is to make exercise fun!  Not only is exercise great for a child's physical health, it's great for their mental health as well.  Physical therapy provides proven health benefits and is an effective means to help children thrive.