While children develop physically and mentally at different rates, they may be diagnosed with a developmental delay if they are slower to reach developmental milestones than their peers. Developmental milestones are skills and behaviors that are learned through playing, speaking, learning, behaving, and moving around. Examples of developmental milestones include things such: • as smiling for the first time. • Rolling over. • Walking. • Pulling up to stand. • Hand gestures, such as waving. • Reading. • Crawling. • Saying their first word. • Socializing with other children. In short, a developmental delay simply means that your child consistently doesn’t learn skills and/or behaviors as quickly as the majority of children in the same age range. However, it’s important to note that children reach milestones at different rates, and some variance is completely normal. If your child is a little behind, don’t worry – it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have a developmental delay. It’s always best to consult with your pediatrician, as they’re the experts on where your child should be at every stage of their development. If you are concerned that your child may have a developmental disorder, or would like more information about our pediatric developmental services, connect with us at Olivero Pediatrics. Our experienced and knowledgeable pediatric team would be happy to answer any questions that you may have or help you get booked for an appointment. We are conveniently located at 1243 Skytop Mountain Rd. Suite 4, Port Matilda, PA 16870. We serve patients from Port Matilda PA, Waddle PA, Julian PA, State College PA, Bellefonte PA, Pennsylvania Furnace PA, and Pine Grove Mills PA.