Milestones are for more than just babies! 

Watching a child grow and develop is one of the most exciting aspects of parenting. From a baby’s first smile to their first steps, these moments are milestones that mark significant stages in their development. These milestones serve as crucial indicators of a child's overall health and development. Your child's reaching milestones is essential for ensuring that he is on the right path toward school readiness and long-term learning success.

What Are Developmental Milestones?

Developmental milestones are a set of functional skills or age-specific tasks that most children can do at a certain age range. These milestones are typically divided into four main areas: physical (motor skills), cognitive (thinking and problem-solving skills), social and emotional (interaction and self-regulation), and language and communication.

You can read more about specific milestones HERE!

The Role of Milestones in School Readiness

One of the primary reasons developmental milestones are so critical is their role in preparing children for school. School readiness goes beyond knowing the alphabet or counting to ten; it encompasses a range of skills, including social-emotional maturity, the ability to follow directions, and the physical stamina required to participate in classroom activities.

For example, children who have developed strong fine motor skills by age five are better equipped to handle tasks like holding a pencil or cutting with scissors, which are crucial for school activities. Similarly, children who have met their language milestones are more likely to communicate effectively with peers and teachers, ask questions, and express their needs, all of which are important for a successful transition to school.

All the foundations to set the stage for school readiness begin as early as in the womb!  Babies in the womb develop reflexes that promote neurological development and contribute to reaching milestones.  These reflexes and milestones continue to develop, evolve, and integrate into the second year of life.  

Potential Long-Term Challenges

When a child does not meet developmental milestones on time or in the expected order, it can be a sign of potential learning challenges.  Other times, we see behavioral or social challenges in older children. 

For example, delayed language development can affect a child's ability to learn to read, which is a critical skill for academic success. Likewise, if a child has not developed appropriate social-emotional skills, they may struggle with forming relationships, managing emotions, and behaving appropriately in a classroom setting, which can hinder their academic and social progress.

The Importance of Brain-Based Chiropractic Care

Early detection of developmental delays is crucial because it allows for timely intervention, which can significantly improve outcomes for children. Our doctors at Early Beginnings take the time to talk to you about how your child is progressing, has progressed in the past, and what contributing factors need to be considered.  Our exam includes assessing milestones, reflexes, and other neurological indicators that can tell us what is going on, where, and why!  

The information that our doctors find during a consultation and exam is invaluable.  It gives answers to why your child may be struggling to meet milestones, why they seem slower to read, or why behavior at school or home is exceedingly difficult.  With answers comes hope!  

Our chiropractic care plans restore the brain’s ability to achieve those milestones. Adjustments free the body to move and grow in the way that it should.  Over a matter of months, we see children catch up, meet their milestones, and excel in school.  

If your child is struggling with developmental delays, school readiness, learning disabilities, or behavioral issues, we can’t wait to meet you and watch your child thrive and reach their full potential!