Child Developmental Checklists Help Provide Guidance For Parent Concerns
Please search through the Child Developmental Checklists. Then locate your age category. If you find one or two concerns. These should not cause any alarm. It is important for you to look at your child’s overall tendencies and clusters of behavior.
These tendencies and clusters of behaviors need to be frequently and consistently demonstrated. If your are not seeing a few in each age category. The next step is to print a copy of that list, and check your concerns.
When there are more than a few concerns found in your child. We recommend that you contact your primary care physician (PCP). Then have a discussion about whether to obtain a referral for an assessment. A Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist or a Pediatric Occupational Therapist should do the assessment.
After you have obtained the referral for the Speech Language Therapist or Occupational Therapist. The next step is to contact a Pediatric Therapy Clinic to obtain an appointment. When you are searching for a Pediatric Therapy Clinic. It is important that the therapists that are both knowledgeable and experienced in child development.
Child Development refers to the sequence of physical, language, thought and emotional changes that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood, During this process a child progresses from dependency on the parents or caregivers to increasing independence. Child Development is strongly influenced by genetic factors [genes passed on by their parents] and events in their prenatal life. It is also influences by environmental factors and their learning capacity.
Speech Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists
Child Development is actively enhanced through therapeutic intervention by Speech Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists. Speech Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists work together with parents and caregivers to provide the appropriate interventions.
What Does Child Development Include
Child Development covers the full scope of skills that a child masters over their lifespan that includes the following developmental areas. Cognition which is the ability to learn and problem solve. Speech and Language which is understanding and using language, reading and communicating. Physical skills which is fine-motor skills and gross motor skills. Sensory Awareness which is the registration of sensory information for use. Social interaction and emotional regulation which is interaction with others and mastering self-control.