Developmental Milestones, Stages

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Synonyms

Developmental stages

Definition

Physical or behavioral signs reflecting the development or maturation of a child’s nervous system. Skills are developed in four domains: physical (gross and fine motor), cognition, language, and socio-emotional, which occur simultaneously and are integrated holistically. Milestones develop in a sequential manner with children developing some basic skills before developing more advanced skills. Children acquire these skills during predictable time frames; however, the actual age at which an individual child may successfully demonstrate a skill varies widely. The sequence of developmental milestones provides a unique foundation for neurological structuring and organization. If genetic or environmental challenges are present, new functions may be triggered to replicate the developmental sequence for continued growth and development of the individual in all domains.