Let’s Talk About Milestones (without losing our minds)
If you’ve ever:
Googled “Should my child be doing this yet?” at 11:47pm
Compared your child to a cousin / friend’s child / random toddler at the park
Felt a tiny knot in your stomach after reading a milestone checklist
You’re in very good company. Welcome. Pull up a chair ☕
Developmental milestones are everywhere. On apps. On toy boxes. At the doctor. On social media. Sometimes it feels like your child is being quietly assessed by the entire internet.
So let’s clear something up—kindly, calmly, and with zero judgement.
What milestones are actually for
Milestones were designed as conversation starters, not report cards.
They help parents and professionals notice patterns and ask questions like:
“Hmm… is this something we should keep an eye on?”
“Would it be helpful to talk to someone about this?”
They’re part of something called developmental monitoring — a way to notice, not measure or diagnose.
Milestone Myth-Busting
Let’s pop a few common myths 👇
❌ Myth: “I need to teach my child their milestones”
✅ Reality: Milestones describe what most children develop naturally around a certain age.
They are not a to-do list.
No flashcards required. No drills. No colour-coded charts.
Children learn communication through connection, play, routines, and everyday interactions — not box-ticking.
❌ Myth: “Milestones are hard science”
✅ Reality: Milestones are created by teams of professionals using research and expert judgement.
They don’t reflect:
Culture
Language background
A child’s individual context
They should not be used for screening children or deciding what ‘skills’ to focus on.
❌ Myth: “If other kids are ahead, I need to step it up”
✅ Reality: Development is not a race.
There is no podium. No prize. No gold medal for “earliest talker”.
You are not behind.
Your child is not behind.
You’re doing far better than you think
❌ Myth: “Milestones are the average age”
✅ Reality: Most milestones show when 75–90% of children have learned a skill.
That means:
Some children do it earlier
Some do it later
Both can be completely typical
Being later than the average does not automatically mean something is wrong.
❌ Myth: “Milestones don’t matter at all”
✅ Reality: They do matter — just not in the way social media makes them feel.
Milestones help identify children who may benefit from extra support.
And early support can be incredibly helpful.
The key word here is support — not pressure.
Why milestones sometimes feel… awful
Here’s the thing no one tells you:
The word milestone comes from racing.
Same path. Same speed. Same finish line.
But childhood development doesn’t work like that.
Kids take different paths.
They stop. Speed up. Loop back. Explore side roads.
Some paths are scenic. Some can be steep.
When milestones are treated like rules instead of references, they create anxiety instead of clarity.
And parents already have enough on their plates.
So how should parents use milestones?
Here’s the TalkTots Hub way 👇
✔️ Use them as one piece of the puzzle
Your child’s personality, play style, culture, and experiences matter just as much.
✔️ Look at patterns, not single skills
One missed box ≠ a problem. Trends over time are far more meaningful.
✔️ Trust your instincts
You know your child better than any checklist ever will.
✔️ Get support early if you’re unsure
Support isn’t about labels — it’s about clarity, confidence, and helping your child thrive.
✔️ Focus on connection, not comparison
The most powerful driver of communication is a responsive, engaged adult — not a milestone chart on the fridge.
A gentle next step (if you want one)
If milestones have left you feeling worried — or even just unsure — you’re not alone.
If you’d like:
Reassurance
A clearer picture of your child’s communication stage
A calmer starting point
👉 You can take our FREE TalkTots Communicator Quiz. It’s designed to help you understand where your child is right now — not where they “should” be.
And if your gut is telling you “I think I need to talk to someone” — trust that.
A qualified Speech and Language Therapist can give you personalised guidance that no checklist (or quiz, or blog) ever could.
Both things can coexist. Clarity and care. Information and support.