Milestones
- Lynda Constable
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
SEASON 1 - EPISODE 3
When a child is born, they grow, learn and develop at their own pace. However, there are certain skills that are generally expected to be achieved around particular ages. These are known as milestones.
Milestones can be physical achievements, language development, or social interactions. Physical movement is fundamental to human development, and all children begin developing a wide range of movement skills — or motor skills — from birth. These include fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and recreational movement skills.
Children with Down syndrome will generally achieve the same basic motor skills necessary for everyday living and personal independence, although often at a later age and sometimes with less accuracy compared to typically developing children.
Below are examples of adjusted milestones for children with Down syndrome.
As you can see, there can be a fairly wide gap in the timing of some milestones.
It is common for children with Down syndrome to experience delays in reaching milestones such as sitting independently, standing and walking. One contributing factor is poor balance. Balance challenges can follow a child into their teenage years and sometimes into adulthood. Impaired balance can also affect the development of other motor abilities and cognitive development. Being able to maintain balance allows for exploration, social interaction and freedom.
Another contributing factor to delayed physical milestones — and a common challenge for individuals with Down syndrome — is decreased muscle strength. During childhood, children with Down syndrome do not experience the same increase in muscle growth and strength as their peers.
Decreased strength can have a significant impact on daily life. It may affect activities such as climbing stairs or getting out of a chair, and can also lead to:
increased wear and tear on joints
a higher risk of falls
elevated levels of fatigue
delayed developmental milestones
an increased risk of osteoporosis
The fact that many children with Down syndrome reach developmental milestones later than their peers may also be linked to lower levels of physical activity during infancy. Independent walking in children with Down syndrome typically occurs around one year later than in typically developing children.
Research has shown that earlier walking onset is more likely in infants with Down syndrome who engage in greater amounts of high-intensity physical activity around the age of one. Increasing physical activity in infancy has therefore been suggested as a way to encourage motor development.
Some of the health benefits of increased physical activity for infants and children with Down syndrome include:
decreased body fat percentage
reduced body weight
improved cardiovascular fitness
increased muscle strength
reduced depression
lower risk of osteoporosis
In addition to these health benefits, physical activity is especially important for people with Down syndrome because it:
promotes physical and social development
establishes positive lifelong habits around movement
increases overall life satisfaction
helps prevent secondary conditions associated with Down syndrome, including diabetes, osteoporosis and dementia
From the evidence, it is clear that physical activity plays an integral role in the health, wellbeing and quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome.
Louis’ milestones
Below are some videos of Louis reaching his milestones.
I am standing
Louis was two years and seven months old when he first attempted to stand. The sheer determination he showed was incredibly inspiring. He was happy, playful and full of joy during his attempts, and never seemed disheartened.
I loved how his elder brother would join in and encourage him.
Every child works within their own timeframe, and it can be disheartening when a child doesn’t reach a milestone when we think they “should”. Patience has been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned on our journey.
Every time Louis reaches a milestone — whether one year or two years later than his peers — it gives me even more reason to celebrate. The sheer joy on his face when he achieves something is truly wonderful, and something we can so easily take for granted.
There is no way of knowing exactly when a child with Down syndrome — or any condition — will reach a particular milestone. Be mindful, be patient, and enjoy the journey with your precious one. It will happen, when they are ready.
I am walking
It was a long wait for Louis to start walking, but in November 2014, at two years and nine months old, he took his first steps. He was around a year behind a typically developing child, but after seeing his determination to stand, I knew walking wouldn’t be far away.
It was bittersweet to see him stop his adorable army crawl and bear crawl — and the classic bum shuffle — but walking was definitely the cleaner and safer option! He used to crawl everywhere: parks, play centres, even the street.
Once he started walking, there was no stopping him. He had the most adorable walk, chattering away as he went. Falling down never discouraged him — he would talk to himself, get back up, and carry on.
The song I chose to play alongside the video resonates deeply with me. The words reflect the emotional journey I’ve been on since Louis’ birth.
All the fear, worry and doubt eventually faded. They were unnecessary fears — but very real ones, and ones I know many parents of children with additional needs experience.
Fear of the unknown is crippling. Learning not to fear the fear is empowering.
Louis shows me something magical every single day with his incredible soul, and I continue to learn from him always.
Cheers to my beautiful boy 🤍
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