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Motor
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
What signs suggest my child may need support with block stacking?
For a child aged about 3 to 7, signs that block stacking may need support include towers far behind same-age peers, an awkward or clumsy grasp, knocking the tower over each time, frustration or avoidance of fiddly hand play, and trouble aligning blocks. Many children stack a few blocks by 18 months and build neater towers nearing 3–4 years. These are signs to observe and encourage, not diagnose at home — a gap that persists across months or affects several hand skills is best raised at a friendly developmental check, where playful occupational therapy can help.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with catching skills?
Between about 3 and 7 years, children grow into catching — from trapping a big ball against the chest to neat hand-catches. Signs worth noticing include closing the eyes or turning away as the ball comes, trouble judging where it lands, still trapping balls against the chest long after peers, dropping balls placed in the hands, or catching well behind same-age friends despite practice. These are things to observe and encourage, not diagnose at home. A gap that persists across months, appears with broader clumsiness, or makes a child avoid play is the cue for a gentle developmental screen.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with climbing?
Between 12 and 36 months, toddlers usually climb onto furniture, up steps and onto playground equipment with growing confidence. Signs your child may need support include not attempting to climb by 18–24 months, very stiff or floppy legs, frequent falls or strong fear, climbing lagging clearly behind walking, or losing a skill once gained. These are signs to observe and monitor — not to diagnose at home. A gentle developmental screen can tell you more.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with colouring skills?
Between roughly 3 and 7 years, signs your child may need support with colouring include an awkward or very tight pencil grip, pressing far too hard or too lightly, struggling to stay within lines well after peers, tiring or refusing quickly, or avoiding colouring and drawing altogether. Colouring draws on fine-motor control, hand strength, visual perception and attention together, so difficulty can show in any of these. These are signs to observe and gently support, not to diagnose at home — a screen helps when a gap persists across months, several areas are affected, or strong avoidance dents confidence.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with coordination?
For a toddler aged roughly 1–3 years, signs that coordination may need support include frequent stumbling or bumping, difficulty stacking blocks or self-feeding, trouble climbing stairs or kicking a ball, unusually stiff or floppy movement, and being well behind playmates in walking, running and using both hands. Some wobble is normal at this age, so these are signs to observe and monitor — not to diagnose at home. Seek a developmental check when a gap persists or widens across months or affects more than one area.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with fine motor?
For a toddler (about 1–3 years), signs that fine motor may need support include trouble picking up small objects with finger and thumb, hands kept fisted, difficulty holding a crayon or spoon, struggling to stack blocks, or a strong one-hand preference before 18 months. Many toddlers bloom on their own timeline, so these are signs to observe and monitor — not to diagnose at home. A check is wise if several signs cluster or persist over months, and gentle, play-based support never has to wait for a label.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with foot control?
Between 1 and 3 years, signs your toddler may need support with foot control include not walking by around 18 months, constant toe-walking, ankles turning in or out, frequent tripping, or a clear difference between the two feet. Most toddlers find their feet with time, so these are signs to observe and screen — not diagnose at home. A simple developmental screen and a paediatric review come first, and early playful support helps when it's needed.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with gross motor?
For a toddler (12–36 months), signs that gross-motor skills may need support include not walking by ~18 months, frequent falling or very unsteady balance, difficulty running, climbing stairs, jumping or kicking by expected ages, a strong one-sided preference, or unusually stiff or floppy muscles. These are signs to observe and check, not to diagnose at home. Not walking by 18 months, loss of a skill, or stiff/floppy tone warrant a prompt paediatric review, and early play-based support helps most.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with gymnastic skill?
For a child aged 3–7, signs that gymnastic-type skills may need support include frequent falling, difficulty balancing on one leg, avoiding climbing or jumping, stiff or floppy movement, and tiring or frustrating quickly in active play. Many children simply need more practice, so these are signs to observe and encourage, not diagnose at home. A gap that persists across several months or knocks a child's confidence is worth a friendly developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with head control?
By the toddler years most children hold their head steady and upright with ease. Signs worth watching include a head that still tips, lags or wobbles when sitting or held upright, always turning to one side with a tight neck, and a body that feels very floppy or unusually stiff. These are signs to observe and share with your doctor — not to diagnose at home — because steady head control underpins sitting, crawling and walking. A prompt, gentle review is best when the pattern persists past 12 months.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with hopping balance?
Between roughly 3 and 7 years, children gradually learn to hop on one foot. Signs your child may need support include not attempting a single-foot hop by 4–5 years, frequent falling or needing to hold on, hopping only on one side, or lagging clearly behind same-age friends — especially if jumping, climbing and balance all lag together. These are signs to observe and gently encourage, not diagnose at home, and easy to understand with a quick motor screen.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with hopping skills?
Most children start hopping on one foot around 3 to 4 years and grow steadier by 5. Signs a child may need support include avoiding hopping, managing only one or two hops, poor single-leg balance, and trouble with related skills like jumping, stair-climbing or running. These are signs to observe gently, not to diagnose at home — a quick developmental screen can show whether play-based occupational therapy would help.
Read the answer AnswerSigns Your Child May Need Support With Jump Rope Coordination
Jump rope is a complex skill that typically develops between ages 5 and 7, so younger children still learning are usually on track. Signs a child may welcome support include difficulty timing jumps to the rope, trouble turning the rope with both hands, frequent tripping or losing balance, and tiring or giving up quickly. These are things to observe and encourage, not diagnose at home, and they often improve with playful practice. A check is worthwhile if difficulty spans several gross-motor skills or shows little change over many months.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with jumping?
Most toddlers begin jumping with both feet off the ground between about 20 and 30 months. Signs worth a closer look include not attempting a jump by around 30 months, always keeping one foot on the floor, frequent falling or very wobbly balance, and avoiding active play. These are signs to observe and gently support, not to diagnose at home. A simple developmental screen helps sort ordinary variation from a delay worth supporting early.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with jumping skills?
Most children begin jumping with both feet off the ground between about 2 and 3 years. Signs a child may need support include not jumping by around 3 years, frequent falls when trying, landing with stiff or crumpling legs, and avoiding jumping, hopping or stairs. These are reasons to observe and check in at a developmental review, not to diagnose at home, as gross-motor skills develop on a wide normal range.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with lateral movement?
For a child aged about 3 to 7 years, signs that lateral movement may need support include frequent wobbling or falling when stepping sideways, avoiding sideways play, keeping feet very wide for balance, difficulty side-shuffling around furniture, struggling to reach across the body, and a strong one-sided preference. These are signs to observe and monitor, not to diagnose at home. A pattern that persists across several months or affects everyday play is worth a gentle developmental screen, where playful support can begin early.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with line tracing?
Signs a child (about 3–7 years) may need support with line tracing include an awkward, very tight or floppy pencil grip, pressing too hard or too lightly, lines that wobble or drift off the path, quick tiring and frustration, losing the line on curves, and avoiding colouring or drawing. These are observations to watch — not diagnose at home — since fine-motor skills develop at different paces. If signs persist past 5–6 years or span dressing, cutlery and scissors, a gentle occupational-therapy screen is the kind next step.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with manual dexterity?
Between roughly 3 and 7 years, signs a child may need support with manual dexterity include awkward or tight pencil grip, avoiding drawing and colouring, difficulty with buttons, zips and threading, frequent dropping of small objects, no settled hand preference, and tiring quickly during fiddly tasks. These are signs to observe and support, not diagnose at home. A developmental screen is worthwhile if two or more persist across months or affect daily play, dressing or early writing.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with mobility?
Between 12 and 36 months, signs your toddler may need mobility support can include not walking by around 18 months, frequent falls or wobbly balance, stiff or floppy legs, a strong one-sided preference, or persistent toe-walking. Most toddlers catch up well, so these are signs to observe and gently check — not to diagnose at home. Not walking by 18 months, losing a skill, or clearly stiff or floppy legs deserve a prompt developmental check, where playful support can begin early.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with motor skills?
Between 1 and 3 years, signs a toddler may need motor support include not walking by around 18 months, frequent falling or a wobbly gait, difficulty grasping or stacking objects, a fixed hand preference before 18 months, and trouble with stairs or self-feeding. Many toddlers move on their own timeline, so these are signs to observe and share with your doctor — not to diagnose at home. A simple developmental screen can show whether monitoring or gentle support is the right next step.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with pencil grip?
Signs a child (about 3–7 years) may need support with pencil grip include a tight fist or awkward, changing grasp past age 4–5, quick tiring or hand pain, pressing too hard or too lightly, avoiding drawing and colouring, and difficulty forming lines or letters. Hand skills mature at different paces, so these are signs to observe and support with playful practice — not to diagnose at home. A persisting pattern, or one affecting comfort and other fine-motor tasks, is worth a gentle screen.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with physical fine motor?
Between 3 and 7 years, signs your child may need fine motor support include an awkward pencil or crayon grip, difficulty with buttons, zips and cutlery, trouble with scissors, avoiding drawing or puzzles, messy laboured writing, and tiring or frustrating quickly with hand-based tasks. These are signs to observe and gently explore — not to diagnose at home. A gap that persists across months, affects more than one area, or seems to slip is best understood through a short developmental screen.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with physical gross motor?
For a child aged 3–7, signs that gross motor skills may need support include frequent tripping or clumsiness, tiring quickly in play, difficulty with stairs, jumping, hopping or catching a ball, low stamina, slumped posture, and avoiding active games peers enjoy. These are signs to observe and share, not to diagnose at home — many children catch up with time and play. A pattern that persists across several months or affects more than one area is best understood through a friendly developmental screen.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with rotational control?
Between 12 and 36 months, signs your child may need support with rotational control include rolling or turning to only one side, stiffness or floppiness when twisting, toppling when reaching across the body, a strong one-sided preference before 18 months, and reluctance to turn to track sounds or toys. These are signs to observe and monitor, not to diagnose at home — a gentle developmental screen settles most questions early.
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