Keep in mind that children develop at their own pace

"Shouldn't he be walking by now?" wondered the mother as she held her cute infant for his 1-year exam. The little guy had rug burn on his knees from crawling on the carpet at home, and mom reported that he was doing a good job pulling up and cruising around furniture.

I assured her that her son was right on target for development, as most kids walk by 12 months to 15 months. Some precocious infants are up and around as early as 8½ months of age while their late-blooming counterparts can walk as late as 18 months.

It's hard for first-time parents to get used to the idea that all kids develop at their own pace and that there is a fairly wide range of what is considered normal motor development. Parents often feel pressured when they see friends' and relatives' children displaying skills their own child has not yet mastered.

Pediatricians see the whole gamut, from typically developing children to those who are severely developmentally delayed. We're generally not too concerned if a child takes his time reaching one physical milestone as long as all his other areas of development are OK.

Part of each well-child physical from newborn through adolescence includes some time devoted to a review of gross motor skills, fine or manipulative motor skills and skills of daily living.

Parents should be prepared to discuss physical development with their pediatrician and should feel free to ask questions if they have any concerns about their child's progress.

In addition to regular physicals, moms and dads can rely on day-care providers and schoolteachers to let them know if their children seem too far out of step in terms of motor skills. They can also use the Internet to access information about normal motor development.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Web site presents a vast array of information on developmental issues. The Learning Disabilities of America organization also presents two concise listings of motor and adaptive milestones -- self-dressing, eating, washing -- reached by typically developing children between ages 1 and 6.

Examples of normal development include a 1-year-old who can sit, crawl, transfer an object from hand to hand and feed himself a cracker. By age 2, a child can seat himself in a small chair, stack three blocks and remove some articles of clothing.

A typically developing 3-year-old can walk on tip-toe, hold a crayon correctly and take off her coat. She admires her 4-year-old friend for being able to ride a tricycle and hop on one foot, as well as for her ability to roll cookie dough and wash her own hands.

By 5, a child can be expected to walk up and down stairs using alternating feet, cut along a line with scissors and be taught to tie his own shoes. His 6-year-old brother is a step ahead, skipping, holding a pencil like a grown-up and dressing himself from head to toe without help.

To access more detailed lists of motor milestones, visit www.ldonline.org/article/6045 and 6039, but keep in mind these are general guidelines, not absolute rules. If your child does not have all of these developmental skills by the expected age, don't panic.

At the same time, make your own observations about your child's overall development and discuss any concerns with his teachers and physician. These professionals can help you identify any significant motor delays and, if indicated, recommend further medical evaluation as well as physical, occupational and developmental therapy.