Developmental milestones: what to expect, and when to seek OT or physio
Milestone charts get handed to parents at every check-up, and it's easy to end up quietly comparing your child against a list every week. Milestones are a genuinely useful guide — but they're a wide range, not a deadline, and every child gets there on their own timeline. Here's a general picture of what tends to happen when, and more importantly, the signs that suggest it's worth a conversation with an OT or physio.
A general guide, not a strict schedule
Every source you'll find — child health nurses, GPs, the Raising Children Network — will say the same thing: there's a wide normal range for almost every milestone, and a child can be a few months either side of "average" and still be developing well. The ranges below are broad and general, not a checklist to tick off on a specific date.
| Stage | Movement (gross motor) | Hands & fine motor |
|---|---|---|
| Birth – 12 months | Lifting head during tummy time, rolling, sitting independently, crawling, pulling to stand, some babies taking early steps | Reaching for and grasping objects, moving toys between hands, developing a pincer grip for small objects |
| 1 – 2 years | Walking independently, starting to run, climbing onto furniture, squatting to pick things up | Stacking a few blocks, scribbling with a fisted grip, drinking from a cup, turning board book pages |
| 2 – 3 years | Running with more control, jumping with both feet, kicking a ball, walking up stairs with support | Stacking more blocks, holding a crayon with fingers rather than a fist, turning single pages, using a spoon |
| 3 – 5 years | Pedalling a tricycle, catching a large ball, hopping, walking up and down stairs one foot per step | Using child scissors, drawing simple shapes and figures, managing buttons, using cutlery more independently |
Signs it might be worth a chat with a physio or an OT
Most differences from these general ranges are completely normal variation. These are the kinds of patterns — not single moments — that are worth mentioning to your GP, child health nurse, or reaching out to us directly about.
Physio might help if you're noticing
- Movement milestones consistently lagging well behind the general range
- Frequent falls or tripping, more than other kids the same age
- Persistent low muscle tone, or a child who seems to tire quickly with active play
- Avoiding climbing, running or playground equipment altogether
- Walking on toes for an extended period, or an uneven gait
- A strong preference for turning the head one way, or a flat spot developing
OT might help if you're noticing
Worth a chat especially when it's genuinely getting in the way of what your child wants or needs to do day to day — not just a difference on its own.
- Fine motor tasks (holding a crayon, using cutlery, buttons) staying hard well past the general range
- Big reactions to certain textures, sounds, or clothing
- Difficulty settling into daily routines — dressing, mealtimes, sleep
- Avoiding messy play, or the opposite: constantly seeking intense sensory input
- Handwriting or drawing well behind classmates once school starts
- Big meltdowns around transitions or changes in routine
You don't have to work out which one first
As we've written about before, plenty of children benefit from both, and figuring out the exact starting point isn't something you need to get right on your own. Tell us what you're actually seeing day to day, and we'll help you work out where to begin.
Not sure if what you're seeing is worth following up?
Tell us what's going on — we'll help you figure out the right next step.
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