Look at participation
Ask how skills affect play, dressing, eating, preschool, and relationships—not only whether one milestone is present.
MILESTONES • PLAY • SCHOOL READINESS
MILESTONES • PLAY • SCHOOL READINESS
Child Development
A practical parent hub for milestones, play, participation, school readiness, and developmental concerns from birth through age five.
A parent-friendly starting point
Child Development: Explore this topic
Development is more than a checklist. Children build skills through relationships, movement, play, routines, and repeated opportunities. Use age ranges as a guide, notice patterns across daily life, and seek support when concerns affect participation or skills are lost.
Follow the child’s pace
Offer practice without pressure and build from what the child can already do.
Know when to ask
Talk with a pediatrician or pediatric OT about loss of skills, pain, marked asymmetry, or persistent difficulty in daily activities.
Practical articles
Child Development
12 articles available
Handwriting
When Should My Child Use a Mature Pencil Grasp?
What pencil grasp development really looks like—and what helps more than repeatedly correcting fingers.
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Sensory
A Calmer Morning Sensory Routine
A realistic 10-minute routine to help children feel organized and ready before preschool or school.
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Fine motor
5 Easy Scissor Activities for Preschoolers
Playful, low-pressure activities that build the hand strength and coordination children need for cutting.
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Self-care
How to Help Your Preschooler Open Lunch Containers Independently
Simple OT-informed ways to practice lunchbox zippers, lids, pouches, and containers before preschool.
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Self-care
The Coat Flip: Help Your Preschooler Put On a Jacket Independently
A playful, step-by-step way to teach the coat-flip method and make getting dressed easier for children ages 2–5.
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Self-care
Teach Your Preschooler to Wash Hands Independently
A simple six-step handwashing routine with playful OT-informed practice ideas for children ages 2–5.
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Self-care
How to Help Your Preschooler Put On Socks Independently
A simple OT-informed way to teach sock dressing through setup, backward chaining, and playful two-hand practice.
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Fine motor & play
7 Two-Handed Play Activities That Build Bilateral Coordination
Easy everyday games that help preschoolers use both hands together for dressing, cutting, drawing, and play.
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Feeding & self-care
How to Help Your Preschooler Use a Fork and Spoon Independently
A calm, practical way to build utensil skills through stable seating, child-sized tools, playful practice, and low-pressure meals.
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Routines & regulation
How to Make Transitions Easier for Preschoolers: 7 Practical Strategies
A calm, OT-informed routine for helping young children stop one activity, understand what comes next, and move through the day with less stress.
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Self-care & sensory
How to Help Your Preschooler Brush Teeth More Independently
A calm, OT-informed toothbrushing routine with practical setup, playful skill-building, sensory support, and clear safety guidance.
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Self-care & preschool routines
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Blow Their Nose Independently
A gentle, OT-informed routine that teaches nose blowing through simple airflow games, a clear sequence, sensory support, and healthy hygiene habits.
Read article →LELEKA PLAY
Practice this skill at home
Explore OT-designed guides, printables, and interactive books that turn ideas into hands-on practice.
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Recommended next steps
Educational information only. This page does not diagnose a condition or replace an individualized evaluation. If concerns affect daily activities, discuss them with your pediatrician or a pediatric occupational therapist.