Developmental Milestones

Developmental milestones refer to a set of age-based, functional skills that can be used as a benchmark to determine whether a child is developing appropriately according to his or her age level. Milestones or skills are typically discussed across several areas of development, including cognitive, language, social, and physical (i.e., fine [Page 386]motor, gross motor) domains, which are reviewed in detail in this entry. Within each domain of functioning, pediatricians or other health care providers typically monitor whether children are making progress as expected, including acquisition of more complex skills. If concerns are raised, children are often referred for additional assessment to determine whether intervention services are warranted in order to bolster the development of these skills. This entry first discusses the significance of developmental ...