Motor Skills Matter

Motor Skills Matter Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Motor Skills Matter, Health & Wellness Website, Manhattan, NY.

Dr. Tara Liddle
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapist
Motor Developmental Expert
Decoding early movement=life long growth
Private PT/Baby Wellness
Author/Speaker

02/20/2026

Movement doesn’t just appear.
It builds.

💛Through repetition.
💛Through position changes.
💛Through small daily opportunities.

And then one day… it clicks.
And it feels like this 🎉

When babies strengthen their hips, core, and shoulder stability, their confidence grows with it.

Not just head shape.
Not just milestones.
Whole-body patterns.

⭐️That’s why early movement matters.

Comment “YAY” if you’ve seen that moment when something finally clicked 💛

Follow for science-backed baby movement guidance.

02/19/2026

We’ve long known that infant jumpers can impact development — affecting hip positioning, increasing toe walking patterns, and making early standing skills harder to organize.
But here’s the real question…
What’s the difference between a child bouncing on their own vs. being placed in a jumper?
✨ First — readiness.�A toddler who pulls to stand and bounces independently is very different from an infant placed in a jumper.
The key? They got there themselves.
When a toddler bounces, it’s:
🔹 A normal balance reaction�🔹 A sign of growing leg strength�🔹 Building body awareness�🔹 Self-initiated vestibular input
It’s also a pre-jumping skill that:
🔹 Develops squatting control�🔹 Strengthens floor-to-stand transitions
✨ Second — mechanics.�Yes, babies may “bounce” when you hold them. That’s often reflexive and short-lived.
But they aren’t fixed in a saddle seat.�They aren’t stuck in one position.�And it isn’t prolonged.
💡 Bottom line:�If you want jumping later, prioritize floor play now.
Most children bounce after pulling to stand.�True two-footed jumping typically appears around 20–24 months.

Questions? Drop them below ⬇️

02/19/2026

Walking doesn’t build strong hips — transitions do.

Before the first independent steps, the real hip work is already happening.

👶 6–10 months
🪑 Bench sitting (feet flat, hips at 90°) builds deep pelvic stability.
🧎 Low → high kneeling strengthens hip extension and alignment.
⬆️⬇️ Practicing up and down teaches controlled lowering — not just pushing up.

🚼 Early walkers (12–18 months)
🎯 Squat to pick up toys instead of locking knees.
🪜 Step up onto low surfaces to train single-leg strength.
🧺 Push a weighted laundry basket to activate glutes and core.

Strong hips aren’t built by standing still.
They’re built by moving between positions — over and over again.

And that controlled lowering?
That’s what reduces falls later.

Save this as a reminder:
💛 Walking is a result of strength — not the starting point.

Follow for realistic, science-backed motor development guidance.

02/17/2026

Many parents focus on the flat spot.

👶But head shape is rarely the starting point.

👶Torticollis and positional asymmetry are movement patterns — and movement patterns shape development.

👀When addressed early:
• Head shape often improves
• Trunk symmetry improves
• Rolling becomes more efficient
• Future motor skills build on a stronger foundation

💛This is why early screening matters.

Flat head syndrome is common.
Asymmetry is treatable.
Panic is optional.

If you’re noticing a consistent side preference, don’t wait.

📋Save this. Share with a new parent.
💬DM “movement” if you want to know what I assess first.

02/12/2026

I see this all the time.

🍃Beautiful. Expensive.
🍃Thoughtfully chosen.

But babies don’t build strength sitting in containers.

💗They build it on the floor.
Rolling. Pivoting. Reaching. Falling. Trying again.

💗Movement isn’t aesthetic — it’s earned.

😍Save this if you’re designing a nursery and want it to support development, not just décor.

💗Free movement is the real luxury!

02/10/2026

Most motor skills don’t “just happen.”

⭐️They’re built through repetition, position changes, and opportunity.

⭐️When development is framed as active instead of automatic, caregivers feel confident—not anxious.

💬 Which skill do you see most misunderstood?

👉 Save this for later
👉 Share with a caregiver who needs this reminder

♥️I’m Tara, a pediatric physical therapist providing in-home care and virtual baby wellness sessions.
My work focuses on how everyday movement builds strong foundations—long before milestones show up.

02/07/2026

Same Brain
Different experiences

Motor skills aren’t just milestones-they’re built through movement, play, and positioning.

Save this and follow

01/16/2026

Attentive-Incentive Thursday!

A reminder a progress is built, not rushed

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Manhattan, NY

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