Parents often wonder, “is this normal?” when it comes to the social and emotional development of their children. Our most common short answer to this question is “maybe.” When we are looking at development, it is important to consider several factors such as age, skills in various areas, environment, and any external factors that could be impacting growth and behavior. We have compiled a list of potential “Red Flags” for preschoolers that is shown below. If you have concerns about your child’s development or think they may need additional support, please contact us today.
Language:
*Strong language abilities but struggles to use it functionally to interact with peers or adults
*May lose language when dysregulated or upset
*Limited language abilities compared to same-aged peers
*Does not use their language to communicate effectively (ex: 1-2-word utterances when capable of more)
Imaginary Play:
*Struggles to play imaginatively with most toys/objects (age 2+)
*Active imagination but is unable to share this with a peer or adult to play collaboratively (age 4+)
*Stuck in the same routine or ritual with their play
Sensory:
*Sensory sensitivities (touch, sound, taste, textures, hand washing, etc.)
*Sensory seeking (crashing into things, invades personal space of others, always touching things, very wiggly)
Focus and Attention:
*Challenges with attending to a task—may quickly move from one activity to the next
*Overly focused on preferred activities and struggles to try new things or transition, may be difficult to gain their attention when they are doing favorite activities
Flexibility:
*Black-and-white or literal thinking patterns
*Strong desire to do things their own way and may meltdown or shutdown if they do not get their way
Daily Routines:
*May struggle to follow daily routines and rituals even after weeks or months of daily practice
*May become stuck on the routines and disproportionately upset when routines are disrupted
Following Directions:
*Difficulty following directions and may need hand-over-hand support to complete a task
*Limited or no first-time listening
Interactions with Adults:
*May interact better with adults than peers and seek out these relationships for companionship and play
*May shy away from adults and appear withdrawn, difficulty with self-advocacy
Interactions with Peers:
*Challenges with initiating or sustaining play
*May share odd information with peers, make unexpected noises/facial expressions, or invade personal space
*May avoid interactions with peers
Circle Time:
*Struggles to sit still during circle time—may wander away, walk into the middle of the circle, etc.
*May have challenges with learning the songs, movements, and routines and/or trouble participating in them
*Blurts out significantly more than peers