Gary Poster, with essential assists from Galyn Norwood, Phiroon Phihakendr, Jose Quijada, Pavandeep Kalra. The Wonderful World of Toddler Play Late Bloomers From walking to talking, some kids reach milestones later than others. But later, at an age when most children's vocabularies are beginning to blossom, Megan was silent. When her mother spoke to her, she'd listen and just smile. Sometimes she would babble, but she said no words.
Every parent knows that feeling.
As our kids grow, we anxiously check their progress against the development charts in childcare books, looking for signs that all is normal. But surprisingly often, kids' abilities don't match the charts so neatly. All are important, and there are a multitude of important milestones within each. Sometimes the anxiety is justified. Late development can indicate brain damage, spinal injury, neurological problems, and autism.