Developmental delays are when a child takes longer than expected to reach milestones in their development. This includes:
Motor skills – like balance, coordination, and handwriting
Cognitive skills – problem-solving and learning
Social & emotional skills – making friends, coping with change
Self-care skills – dressing, feeding, toileting
Developmental delays are not a disorder in and of itself; rather, it is simply a descriptive term indicating that the child has not been reaching certain milestones at the same time as their peers.
It is important to note that children develop different skills at their own pace; just because your child seems to be falling behind in certain aspects does not mean they have an underlying disorder.
If you suspect that your child has developmental delays, seek the advice of health professionals such as developmental paediatricians or child psychologists in order to obtain a proper diagnosis and look into possible underlying causes.
