What can I do to help promote my child’s early development?
Developmental monitoring is observing how a child grows and changes over time to see whether they are reaching developmental milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move at each age. Parents, grandparents, early childhood providers, and other caregivers can participate in developmental monitoring. You can use a brief checklist of milestones to see how a child is developing. If you notice that your child is not meeting a milestone, talk with your child’s doctor.
When you take your child to their doctor for each well-child visit, talking about child development is important. Your child’s healthcare provider will ask questions about their development while interacting with your child to see if they are meeting milestones that most children their age can do. A missed milestone could be a sign of a developmental delay. If your child is missing a milestone, or if either of you have concerns about how they are developing, the doctor may do a developmental screening test as the next step. By asking questions and sharing any concerns you might have with your child’s doctor, you can understand how your child is doing, and learn ways to support your child’s development.
What do I do if I have concerns about my child’s development?
Have you noticed or has someone else noticed a concern about your child’s development? Are you wondering what to do now? Don’t wait and see! We can help you with the next steps. Here are some suggestions about how to navigate the process of ensuring your child gets the help they need.
Start by talking to your child’s physician about your concerns.
How to bring concerns to your child’s physician
Prepare for the appointment.
Write down what you have noticed and where you see specific concerns. For example, if your child is not babbling or hasn’t started to say first words such as mama and dada. It is helpful to bring any videos or brief recordings that show the difficulties that you have observed.
Helpful tips:
During the appointment start by saying:
“I have noticed some things that are really concerning me about my child’s ____.” (be very specific)
For example:
“I am concerned my child is already 2 and is not speaking yet.”
“I am worried because my child doesn’t respond when I call their name.”
Advocate for your child. Do not accept the “Let’s wait and see” approach.
Tell your doctor that you are not comfortable with waiting because you don’t want your child to lose out on critical intervention time. Request further evaluation from this doctor, seek a second opinion from another primary care physician, pediatric neurologist, child psychiatrist, or psychologist.
Keep advocating for your child until you get the answers you are looking for. Don’t wait!!
For general developmental concerns start with Oklahoma’s public services available to any child that qualifies.
If your child is under the age of 3
Soonerstart’s early intervention services are designed to meet the needs of families with infants and toddlers with developmental delays by providing individualized, family-centered support and resources which may include speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, or other services, at no cost to the family. Anyone can make a referral to start the process.
You can call Soonerstart at 405-426-8550, or you can submit an online self-referral on their website. Here is the link:
Be persistent. Keep calling and leaving messages and fill out multiple online self-referrals if needed.
Helpful tips:
When you call say:
“I live in ___ county and …” (i.e., Oklahoma County or McClain County etc.)
Be specific about why you are calling. For example you could say
“I am concerned that my child might have a speech delay.”
“I am concerned my child might be delayed in their development.” OR
“I think my child could have autism.
If your child is over the age of 3.
All children with disabilities from birth through age 21 who meet the eligibility requirements can receive special education or related services through the public education system. These services are provided at no cost to families. You can contact your local school district’s special services office to request an educational evaluation to see if your child is eligible.
Things to be aware of:
- A diagnosis given by a physician or licensed psychologist does not automatically qualify a child for special services. They still must meet the school’s eligibility requirements.
- Your child does not need to have a clinical diagnosis to receive these services.
- A child who meets eligibility does not need to be potty trained to receive services.
If the assessment results indicate that your child does not have a big enough delay to qualify for public school services, you can always check back with them in 6 months – one year if you still have concerns.
What can I do while I wait for my child’s evaluation/services?
Access Private Therapy Services
Contact providers who offer clinic-based therapy (speech-language, occupational, physical, or behavioral therapy services). Your health insurance may cover speech-language and occupational therapies for communication, social, motor and sensory delays, and deficits. Be sure to contact your insurance provider first to find out which services and providers they cover.
- Promote Social Interactions with Other Children
If possible, explore enrolling your child in a Head Start program, daycare or Mother’s Day Out program to provide exposure to typical peers and promote social interactions. Another great opportunity is to access the local library for story time or activity groups. This can help your child slowly acclimate to being around peers without forcing interactions if they are not ready. Another option is to reach out to your friends with children the same age and arrange play dates.
- Play with Your Child
The best developmental activities for your toddler are the ones they experience through play! Get down on the floor with your child and play with them, it is free, easy, and builds skills. The benefits of play are undeniable. Line up toys, build, play dress up, and play with whatever interests your child. If your child wants to roll a car back and forth, do this with them while commenting about the car, the color and how fast a car can go.
- Reach Out to Others
You are not alone. One of the best sources of information for learning about community resources and experiences is through networking with other parents who have children with similar needs. They often provide guidance and insights about available resources.
Organizations that can help you locate resources and network with other families:
Sooner SUCCESS
https://soonersuccess.ouhsc.edu
405-271-2710
Oklahoma Autism Network
405-271-7476
AutismOklahoma
405-355-2525