“Why is my child not walking? Why does he keep falling down?”

“Her handwriting is terrible. She can’t grip the pencil properly. I thought all children should learn to write quite naturally…”

Children are generally considered to be delayed if they do not achieve the milestones as set out in the Quick Guide for Milestones .

Children with motor delay tend to present early such as delay in rolling over and sitting or walking. Those with severe delay will usually continue to be delayed and may develop other associated difficulties such as those children with cerebral palsy.

Those with mild delay often achieve catch-up development and appear to be on-par with their peers. However, when stretched, they would display some weaknesses or in-coordination that reveals their residual deficits. They may go on to school with weaker or slower writing and other motor skills as well as have associated learning problems. ( See Developmental Coordination Disorder under Common Developmental Disorders.)

Handwriting,lace tying and buttoning can be difficult tasks for those with fine motor delay. Sometimes, speech can be concomitantly delayed, in a form, known as oromotor dyspraxia, part of Developmental Co-ordination Disorder.

It s thus important that they are properly assessed and tracked, to provide intervention as needed and allow advocacy for school accommodations for those who require such help.