Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
developmental milestone
Specific skills or abilities typically acquired by children at certain ages that guide pediatric assessment.
Full Definition
Developmental milestones are standardized markers used by pediatricians to track normal child development across domains including motor, cognitive, language, and social-emotional skills. These benchmarks help identify potential developmental delays and guide intervention timing. Milestones are typically organized by age ranges (e.g., walking by 18 months) and form the basis for developmental screening tools used in pediatric practice.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify the developmental domain when documenting milestone achievement or delays.
In Context
- "The patient met all developmental milestones appropriate for her chronological age." — pediatric assessment note
- "Parents should be counseled about expected developmental milestones at each well-child visit." — clinical guideline
Also known as
developmental marker
growth milestone
Contrasted with
developmental delay
regression
Don't confuse with
growth parameter
developmental screening