As parents, it’s natural to wonder if your child is developing on track. Every child grows at their own pace, but motor milestones give us important information about how children are developing strength, balance, coordination, and movement skills.
At Back Bay Speech & Occupational Therapy, we’re excited to now offer Pediatric Physical Therapy (PT) alongside our speech, occupational, and feeding services. Our physical therapists partner with families to help children build the skills they need to confidently explore their world.
What Are Motor Milestones?
Motor milestones are the physical skills children develop as they grow. These include rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, running, jumping, and climbing. While every child develops at their own pace, there are general age ranges for when these skills typically emerge.
Some examples include:
- Rolling: around 4–6 months
- Sitting independently: around 6–8 months
- Crawling: around 7–10 months
- Pulling to stand: around 9–12 months
- Walking independently: around 12–18 months
- Running and climbing: around 18–24 months
Children don’t need to reach every milestone on the exact same day, but significant delays or difficulty learning new movement skills may be a sign that additional support would be beneficial.
Signs Your Child May Benefit from Physical Therapy
Consider speaking with your pediatrician or scheduling a PT evaluation if your child:
- Isn’t meeting expected motor milestones
- Prefers one side of their body consistently
- Has difficulty with tummy time
- Seems unusually stiff or floppy
- Frequently falls more than peers
- Avoids playground equipment or stairs
- Walks on their toes consistently
- Has trouble keeping up with other children during play
- Was born prematurely and is showing delays
- Has a diagnosis that may affect movement or muscle development
The earlier concerns are identified, the more opportunities children have to develop strong movement patterns.
Why Early Intervention Matters
Movement is about much more than walking.
Gross motor skills support a child’s ability to explore, play, learn, and participate in everyday activities. As children become more confident movers, they also gain opportunities to build independence, confidence, problem-solving skills, and social connections through play.
Addressing challenges early can help children:
- Build strength and endurance
- Improve balance and coordination
- Develop age-appropriate movement patterns
- Increase confidence during play
- Participate more fully at home, school, and in the community
- Reduce frustration that can occur when physical tasks feel difficult
Children’s brains and bodies are incredibly adaptable during the early years, making early intervention especially effective.
What Happens During a Physical Therapy Evaluation?
Our evaluations are designed to be fun, engaging, and child-centered.
During your visit, your physical therapist will:
- Learn about your child’s medical and developmental history
- Observe how your child moves through play
- Assess strength, balance, coordination, posture, flexibility, and mobility
- Discuss your family’s goals and concerns
- Answer your questions and determine whether therapy would be beneficial
If therapy is recommended, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of the treatment plan and practical strategies you can begin using at home.
What Does Pediatric Physical Therapy Look Like?
Children learn best through play—and so does physical therapy.
Sessions may include activities that target:
- Strength
- Balance
- Coordination
- Walking and running skills
- Stair navigation
- Jumping and hopping
- Core stability
- Endurance
- Motor planning
- Flexibility and range of motion
Our therapists tailor every session to your child’s interests, strengths, and developmental needs, making therapy both effective and enjoyable.
A Collaborative Approach
One of the unique advantages of receiving services at Back Bay Speech & Occupational Therapy is our collaborative model.
Many children benefit from support across multiple areas of development. Our speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and feeding specialists work together when appropriate, ensuring children receive coordinated, family-centered care.
Whether your child is working on communication, feeding, sensory processing, motor skills, or multiple developmental goals, our team collaborates to provide comprehensive support.
We Bring Therapy to You
We understand that busy families need flexible options.
Back Bay Speech & Occupational Therapy offers:
- In-home pediatric physical therapy
- Therapy in our Charlestown clinic
- Collaborative care with speech, occupational, and feeding therapists
- Family education and home programs designed to fit into everyday routines
Wondering If Your Child Could Benefit?
If you’ve noticed your child isn’t meeting motor milestones or simply have questions about their development, we’re here to help.
An evaluation doesn’t always mean your child will need ongoing therapy—but it can provide valuable information, reassurance, and guidance for supporting your child’s development.
Every child deserves the opportunity to move, play, explore, and participate with confidence. We’re honored to partner with families every step of the way.
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