• In this module, students will learn to organize an assessment of infants' early gross motor development and to interpret results using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) to identify infants that would benefit from early intervention and to plan program goals.

At the end of this learning module, students will be able to:

• Describe the components of a complete assessment of the gross motor function of infants.
• Select the appropriate type of assessment for a given evaluative context.
• Use the results of an assessment on the AIMS to describe the features of developmental delay in an infant with Down syndrome.
• Apply these results to explain to parents the developmental status of their infant and to identify intervention goals.
• Formulate two S.M.A.R.T. goals for this infant and describe play activities the parents could use facilitate goal achievement.

• Early intervention has been shown to improve the long-term functional outcomes of infants with delayed and atypical developmental trajectories. Early identification of these infants is, therefore, essential and paediatric physiotherapists play an important role in screening infants who are at-risk for developmental disabilities. In this role, physiotherapists must apply sound judgment in selecting appropriate assessment tools that either discriminate or follow the early trajectory of infants' gross motor development, and in evaluating outcomes to appropriately refer infants for early intervention and to plan effective intervention programs.