Pediatric Gross Motor Delay Therapy in Durham & Chapel Hill
What is Gross Motor Delay?
A gross motor delay occurs when a child has difficulty meeting physical milestones expected for their age. Some children may appear clumsy, tire easily, avoid physical activities, or struggle with coordination and balance. Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body and include activities such as rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, running, jumping, climbing stairs, and maintaining balance. When a child experiences delays in these skills, it can impact independence, confidence, play, and participation in everyday activities.
Pediatric Gross Motor Delay Signs & Symptoms
- Delayed rolling, crawling, or walking
- Frequent falls or tripping
- Difficulty climbing stairs
- Trouble keeping up with peers on the playground
- Poor balance or coordination
- Low muscle tone or weakness
- Difficulty jumping, hopping, or running
- Challenges with posture or body control
At Therapy Smarts, our team evaluates each child’s movement skills, muscle strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination to create a customized therapy plan designed around their unique needs.
How Therapy Smarts Supports Children with Gross Motor Delay
At Therapy Smarts, our multidisciplinary team in Durham and Chapel Hill works together to create a customized “roadmap” that helps your child hit their milestones and gain independence.
Building Strength and Mobility (Physical Therapy)
Children with Gross Motor Delay may experience hypotonia (low muscle tone) and ligament laxity. Our Pediatric Physical Therapists focus on fun, engaging, child-centered activities to help children improve gross motor development while building confidence and independence. Therapy sessions may include:
- Balance and coordination activities
- Obstacle courses and movement games
- Strengthening exercises
- Core stability training
- Gait and walking practice
- Stair navigation
- Jumping and hopping activities
- Stretching and mobility exercises
- Tummy time support for infants
- Playground and functional movement practice
Therapy Smarts therapists focus on helping children participate safely and confidently in everyday childhood activities such as sports, recess, school routines, and family outings.
Enhancing Communication and Feeding (Speech Therapy)
Communication is the bridge to connection. Children with developmental delays my also face challenges with speech clarity or language delays, our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) provide:
Oral Motor Therapy: Exercises to strengthen the tongue and jaw for clearer speech.
Total Communication Support: Using signs, gestures, or AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) to reduce frustration while verbal speech develops.
Feeding Therapy: Specialized support for chewing and swallowing safety, ensuring your child gets the nutrition they need to thrive.
Developing Independence and Fine Motor Skills (Occupational Therapy)
Our Occupational Therapists (OTs) focus on “the job of being a kid.” We help children master the daily skills they need for home and school, including:
Fine Motor Coordination: Strengthening small hand muscles for writing, using scissors, or buttoning clothes.
Self-Care Skills: Practical training for feeding themselves, dressing, and grooming.
Sensory Integration: Helping children process information from their environment so they can stay focused and calm in the classroom.
Social and Behavioral Growth (ABA Therapy & Mental Health Support)
For children who need extra support with social cues or behavioral regulation, our ABA and Mental Health teams offer a supportive environment to:
Build positive social interactions with peers.
Increase attention span and classroom readiness.
Support emotional regulation and confidence-building
Wondering About Developmental Milestones?
Have questions about your child’s development, or wondering if a certain diagnosis may be a fit? Try out our developmental screening tool— it’s a fast, free way to get a snapshot of your child’s progress on his or her developmental milestones.
Ready to Help Your Child Reach Their Full Potential?
At Therapy Smarts, we don’t believe in a “wait and see” approach. We believe in early, expert intervention that gives your child the tools they need to thrive. Whether you are looking for specialized Gross Motor Delay support or a comprehensive developmental evaluation, our award-winning team in Durham and Chapel Hill is ready to partner with your family.
Two Easy Ways to Begin:
Contact Us Directly: Ready to schedule? Call us at 919-378-1340.
Fill out our Online Inquiry Form to speak with a member of our intake team.
Don’t navigate this journey alone—let’s unlock your child’s possibilities together
