I have a question for you gals. I have a friend, best friend, who has a daughter 31 months who does not talk yet. She mostly just babbles and sometimes says Momma or Dadda. She loves movies and seems to play ok with other children. It seems as though she does not have the best social skills as she bit her teacher and pinched 2 boys and woke everyone up during nap time at preschool. She is in the process of being evaluated. She had one yesterday by a speech pathologist and was given a score of a 13 month old. She is having her hearing checked in a week, but she doesn't seem to have a hearing problem. At time she seems to be responsive but she couldn't point or look at when asked who her Mommy and Daddy were. Do any of you have any advice or information or if you had children that showed these same signs. My friend seems to think its her being stubborn and doing things when she wants. I am just not sure. She doesn't "act" like any other 2 1/2 year olds I know. Most I can hold a conversation with or interact fairly well.
Good to get her evaluated. Honestly, I must have lucked out with doctors and services, neither of my kids went past 12 months without services or evaluations.
Normal children should be
What they should be doing:
Social and emotional:AT 3 YEARS:Responds to anyone calling their name, not just mom and dadLanguage:
Is more excited about company of other children
Enjoys social play with children
Imitates the behavior of others, especially adults and older children
Begins to show defiant behavior
Demonstrates increasing independence
Separation anxiety begins to fadeCan say between 50 and 300 wordsMovement:
Uses 2 to 3 word phrases
Uses 2 to 4 word sentences
Points to object or picture when it's named for him
Understands simple verbs like "eat" and "sleep"
Correctly pronounces most vowels
Correctly pronounces n, m, p and h
Uses simple phrases
Repeats words overheard in conversation
Asks for common foods by name
Makes animal sounds like "meow" and "moo"Pulls toys behind them as they walkCognitive:
Carries a large toy or several toys while walking
Can pick up objects while standing and not lose their balance
Can run with better coordination
Stands on tip toe
Kicks a ball without losing their balance
Scribbles on his or her own
Turns a container over to pour items out
Builds a tower of 6 or 7 blocks
Turns the pages of a book one at a time
Is capable of turning a door knob
May use one hand more often than the other
Is able to dress and undress betterFinds objects even when hidden under 2 or 3 coversAlert your child's doctor if he or she:
Begins to sort shapes and colors
Begins make-believe play
Points to simple body parts like "nose"
Follows simple instructions
Has an increased attention spanDoes not respond to someone calling their name (anyone)
Does not engage with other children to play
Does not imitate actions or words
Does not follow simple directions
Does not initiate two-word phrases and not just echo words
Does not use simple sentences with simple words and a phrase
Does not speak at least 15 words
Experiences any loss of words
Does not develop heel to toe walking pattern
Only walks on their toes
Cannot push a toy with wheels
Experiences a dramatic loss of skills he or she once had
What they should be doing:
Social:AT 4 YEARS:Enjoys social playEmotional:
Spontaneously shows affection for familiar playmates
Imitates adults and playmates
Understands the concept of mine and his or hers
Can take turns in games
Has short periods where separation anxiety is decreased
Enjoys helping with household tasks
Begins to recognize their own limits and asks for help
Begins to notice other people's moods and feelingsOpenly expresses affectionMovement:
Expresses a wide range of emotions
Separates easily from parents
Objects to major changes in routine
Is able to make choices between 2 thingsWalks up and down stairs alternating their feet with one foot per stepLanguage:
Has improved balance
Climbs well
Kicks a ball
Catches large balls
Runs easily
Runs around obstacles
Bends over easily without falling
Pedals a tricycle
Climbs ladders
Uses a slide by themselves
Turns rotating handles
Can screw and unscrew lids, nuts and bolts
Can easily place small objects in small openings
Can draw circles with a pencil or crayon
Can draw using motions up and down as well as side to side
Can build a tower of more than 9 blocks
Holds a pencil in a writing position
Can dress themselves, only requiring assistance with laces, buttons, etc.
Feeds self without difficultyFollows a two or three part commandCognitive:
Has several hundred words
Can say name, age and sex
Recognizes and identifies almost all common objects and pictures
Understands most sentences
Uses 4 to 5 word sentences
Uses question inflection to ask for something
Asks questions frequently
Uses pronouns such as I, you, me, we, and they correctly
Uses some plurals such as cats, socks, and toys
Uses past tense verbs such as "jumped"
Strangers can understand almost all of their wordsMakes mechanical toys workAlert your child's doctor if he or she:
Plays make believe with dolls, stuffed animals and people
Matches an object in their hand or room to a picture in a book
Sorts objects by shape and color
Understands the concept of "two"
Understands placement in space such as on, in, behind and under
Understands the concept of "now", "soon" or "later"
Completes simple puzzles
Learns by doing
Learns through their senses
Has a longer attention spanHas poor eye contact with others
Does not "pretend" play
Shows little interest in other children
Shows a limited interest in toys
Has extreme difficulty separating from mother or primary caregiver
Frequently falls
Has difficulty on the stairs
Cannot build a tower of more than four blocks
Cannot copy a circle
Has difficulty manipulating small objects
Has persistent drooling
Has very unclear speech
Is reversing their pronouns such as I and you or they and we
Use echolalia (repeating words)
Uses a monotone or "robotic" voice
Cannot communicate in short phrases
Does not understand simple instructions
Experiences a dramatic loss of skills he or she once had
What they should be doing:
Social:Enjoys social play with childrenEmotional:
Interested in new experiences
Cooperates with other children
Negotiates solutions to conflicts
Enjoys pretending and has a vivid imagination
Increasingly inventive in fantasy play
Plays pretend in imitating another person
More independent
Talks about personal family matters to others
Commonly has imaginary playmatesImagines that many unfamiliar images may be monstersMovement:
Views themselves as a whole person involving mind, body and feelings
Often cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality
May display increased aggressive behavior
Is rebellious if expectations are excessive
Expresses anger verbally rather than physicallyIs able to go up and down stairs without supportLanguage:
Is able to move forward and backward with agility
Their running is more controlled being able to stop, start and turn
Hops and stands on one foot for up to five seconds
Catches a bounced ball most of the time
Throws a ball overhand with coordination
Kicks a ball forward
Draws circles and squares
Uses scissors and can cut along a line
Uses table utensils skillfully
Begins to copy some capital letters
Draws a person with two to four body parts
Can brush their teeth, comb their hair, dress and undress themselvesTells storiesCognitive:
Can say about 1500 words
Speaks in complex sentences of five to six words or more
Speaks clearly enough for strangers to understand
Has mastered some basic rules of grammar
Can speak in the past tense
Uses verbs that end with "ing" such as walking or playing
Can describe how to do things such as how to color a picture
Can describe the use of common objects such as car or cup
Expresses ideas and feelings rather than just talking about the world around them
Learns and sings simple songsWill ask multiple questions often, more than at any other ageAlert your child's doctor if he or she:
Understands the concept of same and different
Understands the concept of counting
Can count to four
Correctly identifies colors
Tries to solve problems from a single point of view
Begins to have a clearer sense of time
Follows three part commands
Recalls parts of a story
Can answer "why" and "when" questions
Engages in fantasy play
Lacks a moral concept of right and wrong
Starts to develop logical thinking
Begins to understand that pictures can represent real objects
Understands the concept of lying and may begin to lie
Recognizes absurd language joking such as "the elephant just flew away!"
Can answer "what" questionsStill clings or cries when parents leave
Ignores other children
Shows no interest in interactive games
Does not respond to people outside of the family
Does not engage in fantasy play
Resists dressing, sleeping or using the toilet
Lashes out with no self-control when angry or upset
Cannot jump in place
Cannot throw a ball overhand
Cannot ride a tricycle
Has difficulty scribbling
Cannot grasp a crayon between thumb and fingers
Cannot copy a circle
Cannot stack four blocks
Doesn't use pronouns like you and me correctly
Doesn't use sentences of more than three words
Speaks "at" people rather than "with"
Experiences a dramatic loss of skills he or she once had
| Indicators of Normal Development | |||||
|
Age |
Skills or Abilities Awareness and Thinking |
Communication |
Movement |
Social |
Self-help |
|
| |||||
| birth- 3 months |
Responds to new sounds Follows movement of hands with eyes Looks at object and people |
Coos and makes sounds Smiles at mother's voice |
Waves hands and feet; Grasps objects; Watches movement of own hands |
Enjoys being tickled and held; Makes brief eye contact during feeding |
Opens mouth to bottle or breast and sucks |
|
| |||||
| 3-6 months | Recognizes mother Reaches for things |
Turns head to sounds and voices. Begins babbling. Imitates sounds. Varies cry. |
Lifts head and chest; Bangs objects in play |
Notices strangers and new places Expresses pleasure or displeasure Likes physical play |
Eats baby food from spoon Reaches for and holds bottle |
|
| |||||
| 6-9 months | Imitates simple gestures Responds to name |
Makes nonsense syllables like gaga Uses voice to get attention |
Crawls Stands by holding on to things. Claps hands. Moves objects from one hand to the other |
Plays peek-a-boo. Enjoys other children Understands social signals like smiles or harsh tones |
Chews Drink from a cup with help |
|
| |||||
| 9-12 months | Plays simple games. Moves to reach desired objects Looks at pictures in books |
Waves bye-bye Stops when told "no." Imitates new words. |
Walks holding onto furniture Deliberately lets go of an object. Makes markes with a pencil or crayon |
Laughs aloud during play Shows preference for one toy over another Responds to adult's change in mood |
Feeds self with fingers Drinks from cup |
|
| |||||
| 12-18 months | Imitates unfamiiar sounds and gestures Points to a desired object |
Shakes head to mean "no." Begins using words. Follows simple commands |
Creeps upstairs and downstairs Walks alone Stacks blocks |
Repeats a performance laughed at Shows emotions like fear or anger Returns a kiss or hug |
Moves to help in dressing Indicates wet diaper |
|
| |||||
| 18-24 months | Identifies parts of own body. Attends to nursery rhymes. Points to pictures in books |
Uses two words to describe actions Refers to self by name |
Jumps in place. Pushes and pulls objects Turns pages of book one by one. Uses fingers and thumb |
Cries a bit when parents leave Becomes easily frustrated Pays attention to other children |
Zips Removes clothes without help Unwraps things |
|
| |||||
| 24-36 months | Matches shapes and objects Enjoys picture books Recognizes self in mirror Counts to ten |
Joins in songs and rhythm. Uses three-word phrases. Uses simple pronouns Follows two instructions at a time |
Kicks and throws ball Runs and jumps. Draws straight lines Strings beads |
Pretends and plays make believe Avoids dangerous situations Initiates play Attempts to take turns |
Feeds self with spoon Uses toilet with some help |