Parameters of Your Little One's Delay in Walking and Speaking

Mommy is anxious because the Little One  is not yet skilled to walk? Not to mention that the Little One’s speech skill is very different from his/her peers. It should be understood that the development of the Little One does not have to be the same with his/her peers. Age range for achievement of walking and speaking skills is quite large. Nevertheless, there are still developmental parameters that Mommy must pay a close attention.

To be able to walk, the Little One can start walking at the age 12-15 month. Some are faster (as fast as 8 months), others are slower. If the Little One is 18 months old and still can not walk, Mommy should consult the condition to the pediatrician.

Delayed walking can be caused by several things, such as, weak muscles, head trauma, or cerebral palsy disease (paralyzed brain). If the other development of the Little One is normal, the Little One may not have been walking because of lack of stimulation. The Little One who is too often being picked up or carried on or often has to travel far that he/she has to use a stroller tends to lack the opportunity to explore the room and move the muscle.

Another developmental disorder that is often encountered is a delayed in speech. Approximately 1 in 5 children experience this delay but does not require special handling. Here are some signs that Mommy should be aware of:

• Age 12 months: the Little One can not mention the word "mama" and "papa", and do not understand or respond when is spoken to.
• Age 18 months: the Little One is not speaking a single word yet
• Age 24 months: the Little One just say a few words. He/she often communicates by pointing at something.
• Age 30 months: the Little One uses only one syllable or only maximal 50 vocabularies.
• Age 36 months: Strangers can not understand the words of the Little One or he/she just talks using two simple words.

There are several factors that can cause the Little One to have a delayed speech condition, such as the use of more than one language at home, speech control disorder, ear infections, or autistic spectrum disorder.

In order to grow and develop optimally, the Little One needs to have a complete and balanced nutrition support and stimulation according to age as well as his/her development stage. Provide nutrients that contain omega-3, omega-6, and alpha-lactalbumin useful for the development of the nervous system, as well as calcium and vitamin D that will maintain bone and teeth density.

For stimulation, invite the Little One to do activities that can hone his/her motor skills such as making and flying plane cartons and hopping a geometry -jump. These creative games and other play ideas can be found at Morinaga Multiple Intelligence Play Plan. On the site, not only there is a game idea that can stimulate motor skills but also can stimulate other intelligences such as linguistics, mathematical logic, musical, visual spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist, and moral.

If Mommy feels there are things that do not fit the parameters on the development of the Little One, do not hesitate to discuss it with a pediatrician.