Down Syndrome Developmental Milestones Checklist

Everyone looks forward to watching their child hit the big milestones when they’re little. While every child may be different, some parents, school administrators, and teachers have questions about how those milestones change in a child with Down Syndrome.

Pediatric Therapeutic Services (PTS) works alongside schools to help children with disabilities, including Down Syndrome, get the support they need to thrive and reach those critical milestones. Learn more about developmental milestones for children with Down Syndrome below.

Expectations and Developmental Milestones for Children with Down Syndrome

Developmental milestones, beginning at just a few months old, help chart a child’s social and motor skills as they age and where they should be at that point in their life. Children with Down Syndrome experience some developmental differences from other children in the first six years of life.

Knowing that these developmental milestones change for children with Down Syndrome can help parents and teachers prepare and offer support along the way.

Down Syndrome Developmental Milestones

This checklist highlights important social, language, self-help, and motor skill development milestones for children with Down Syndrome compared to their peers. Every child is different, and there may be some variation in these milestones. It is normal for all children to develop a little differently than one another. ¹

Physical, occupational, and speech therapy services can help children with Down Syndrome reach these milestones. Schools that partner with PTS can offer these services during school, helping children access their education, socialize with their classmates, and better interact with a classroom environment.

Therapists who work alongside PTS use a whole-child approach, which takes into account a child’s developmental milestones, academic goals, and more in order to provide the right support levels.

Helping Children with Down Syndrome Reach Milestones in School

Knowing when a child reaches certain milestones can help parents, educators, and administrative staff better understand a child with Down Syndrome’s needs and what services are best to offer. Therapists and schools that work alongside PTS will have access to resources that help children with Down Syndrome stay involved in their education and better socialize with their peers. Learn more about partnering with PTS today.

1. https://ndss.org/resources/early-intervention