It’s easy to get swept up in the lives of our children, feeling immense pride as they tackle each milestone. Watching in awe as they grab a toy for the first time, snapping away as they try their first foods and catching their first steps on camera. These milestones are fun, but they’re also very important, and usually put into two categories: gross motor skills and fine motor skills.

Gross motor skills involve large movements that use the main muscle groups, such as rolling, sitting, crawling and walking, while fine motor skills focus on more precise movements, like grasping objects, stacking blocks, and eventually drawing or writing. Tracking these milestones gives parents a good snapshot of their child’s physical development, or it may highlight areas where support is needed. Pediatric physiotherapy provides early interventions tailored to a child’s specific needs, helping them gain strength, coordination, and confidence in their physical abilities.

The most important thing to note when looking at milestones is that every child develops at their own rate. However, it is valuable to recognise any signs of delay and seek the right support to get the most from early intervention. Here are some common developmental delays:

• Delayed walking or crawling: Delayed crawling is usually noted at around 10 months, while walking is around 18 months. A child may have muscle weakness, lack of coordination, or low muscle tone, which can affect their ability to move and explore.
• Difficulty with coordination: This may present as clumsiness, frequent tripping or falling, or trouble climbing stairs. Coordination issues can arise from underlying developmental conditions or simply a need for targeted exercises to build balance and control.
• Challenges with fine motor skills: Children with a delay may find it difficult to grasp small objects, draw, or stack blocks and turn pages. If a child struggles with these activities by the age of 2-3 years, they may need support to develop these important hand-eye coordination and strength skills.
• Lack of muscle tone (Hypotonia): Children with hypotonia may appear “floppy” or have loose joints, making it harder for them to hold their bodies upright. Hypotonia can affect balance, posture and coordination, leading to delays in skills like sitting, crawling and walking.

Early intervention is key to supporting children who experience developmental delays. When children feel confident in their abilities, they are more likely to explore their environment, interact with peers around them and enjoy plenty of independence. Physiotherapists trained in child development use screenings and evaluations to assess each child’s unique needs, creating tailored programs that support growth in areas like muscle strength, coordination and balance. This personalised approach ensures that any developmental challenges are addressed early.

Pediatric physiotherapists use a range of interventions to support both gross and fine motor development in children. Each one is designed to build skills, boost confidence, and encourage independence.


Gross motor interventions focus on strengthening large muscle groups and improving coordination and balance. Techniques used may include:

• Sitting exercises: To help children develop core stability, therapists may use activities like supported sitting on a stability ball, where they learn to balance and turn on their core muscles.
• Crawling drills: Crawling strengthens the arms, legs and core. Therapists may set up obstacle courses that encourage crawling under and over objects.
• Walking and balance exercises: For children developing their walking skills, activities like stepping on soft mats or using balance beams help improve leg strength and coordination.

Fine motor interventions help children develop the precise hand movements needed for tasks like writing, buttoning clothes and using utensils. Techniques include:

• Hand-eye coordination activities: Therapists might use play-based tasks, like stacking blocks, threading beads onto strings, or sorting small objects, which refine children’s hand-eye coordination and build hand strength.
• Grip and dexterity exercises: Therapists may use tools like therapy putty, small toys, or tweezers to improve grip strength and finger flexibility.
• Scissors and drawing skills: As children approach school age, exercises that involve cutting paper, tracing shapes, or using crayons and markers help develop the fine motor skills needed for drawing, writing and crafting.

While physiotherapists can give children the tools they need to develop, parents need to take an active role at home to maximise the effectiveness of interventions and reinforce new skills they have learned. Regular communication between physiotherapists and caregivers means a child’s therapy plan can be adjusted as needed, addressing new challenges or milestones as they arise. Many organisations, such as the Australian Physiotherapy Association and Early Childhood Intervention Australia, offer online guides and resources on child development and home support strategies.

Pediatric physiotherapy is valuable in supporting children in reaching their developmental milestones, and building strength, coordination and confidence essential for growth and independence. Through targeted interventions, physiotherapy helps children with developmental delays and encourages them to reach their potential. Early intervention can make a big difference, so if any concerns arise, seeking guidance from a pediatric physiotherapist can provide the necessary support. By working closely with healthcare providers, children can explore, learn and grow confidently.