Look at participation
Ask how skills affect play, dressing, eating, preschool, and relationshipsβnot only whether one milestone is present.
MILESTONES β’ PLAY β’ SCHOOL READINESS
MILESTONES β’ PLAY β’ 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 childβs 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
Fine motor & bilateral coordination
7 Clothespin Games That Build Hand Strength and Bilateral Coordination
Seven playful, OT-informed clothespin activities for preschoolers that support hand strength, pincer grasp, visual-motor skills, and two-hand coordination.
Read article β
Fine motor & preschool readiness
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Use a Glue Stick Safely and Independently
An OT-informed craft routine for children ages 2β5 using a stable setup, two-hand coordination, simple visual steps, and close adult supervision.
Read article β
Mealtime routines & independence
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Clear Their Place After Meals
An OT-informed mealtime cleanup routine for children ages 2β5 using safe dishes, two-handed carrying, small wiping jobs, and graded help.
Read article β
Preschool routines & independence
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Pack and Carry a Backpack Independently
An OT-informed preschool routine for packing a small backpack, using two straps, and building independence without overloading little bodies.
Read article β
Play routines & independence
How to Help Your Preschooler Put Toys Away Independently
An OT-informed cleanup routine for children ages 2β5 using small jobs, picture cues, simple sorting, movement breaks, and calm practice.
Read article β
Dressing & motor planning
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Put On a Pullover Shirt Independently
A calm, OT-informed way to help children ages 2β5 put on a T-shirt using easy clothing, a simple sequence, and graded practice.
Read article β
Dressing & bilateral coordination
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Take Off a Pullover Shirt Independently
A calm, OT-informed way to help children ages 2β5 take off a T-shirt or sweatshirt using stable positioning, a simple sequence, and graded practice.
Read article β
Self-care & sensory comfort
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Brush Their Hair Independently
A gentle, OT-informed way to help children ages 2β5 learn hair brushing through child-friendly tools, detangling from the ends, sensory support, and graded practice.
Read article β
Self-care & sensory comfort
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Wash Their Face Independently
A gentle, OT-informed way to help children ages 2β5 learn face washing through a simple routine, sensory comfort, and graded practice.
Read article β
Self-care & toileting readiness
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Pull Pants Up and Down Independently
A respectful, OT-informed way to help children ages 2β5 manage elastic-waist pants for dressing and toileting through stable positioning, simple cues, and graded practice.
Read article β
Self-care & bilateral coordination
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Pour a Drink Independently
A calm, OT-informed way to teach children ages 2β5 to pour from a small pitcher using two hands, graded control, and spill-friendly practice.
Read article β
Self-care & motor planning
How to Teach Your Preschooler to Put On Shoes Independently
A calm, OT-informed way to teach children ages 2β5 to put on and fasten shoes through simple steps, backward chaining, and playful practice.
Read article βLELEKA 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.