Imprecise term describing a child whose development seems to lag behind that of his peers.

Laypersons use the terms "late developer" or "late bloomer" to describe the child or adolescent whose development is at the lower range of normal for his or her chronological age. The terms are imprecise, since they are used to describe any developmental lag, whether indicated by poor academic performance or a lag in physical, emotional, psychological, or social development.