Have you ever wondered if your child is developing appropriately like his/her peers? Do you worry that he/she may be lacking some skills most children his/her age has already developed? Below are RED FLAGS used to gauge a child’s developmental status.
Motor Delay
- has poor head control by 3 months
- has fisted hands beyond 4 months
- is unable to hold objects by 7 months
- does not sit independently by 10 months
- cannot stand on one leg by 3 years
Language Delay
- does not turn to sound by 6 months
- does not babble or use gestures by 12 months
- speaks no single words by 16 months
- speaks no 2-word phrases by 2 years
- speaks no 3-word sentences by 3 years
Psychosocial Delay
- has no social smile by 3 months
- does not laugh in playful situations by 6 months
- hard to console and stiffens when approached by 1 year
- resists discipline and in constant motion
- does not play with other children at 3 years
Cognitive Delay
- is not alert to mother by 2 months
- does not search for dropped objects by 6 months
- has no object permanence by 12 months
- has no interest in cause-and-effect games by 18 months
- does not categorize similarities by 2 years
- does not know full name by 3 years
- cannot count sequentially by 4 1/2 years
- does not know letters or colors by 5 years
- does not know own birthday or address by 5 1/2 years
School Childrren
- is slow to remember facts
- is slow to learn new skills
- has poor coordination and is prone to accidents
- is awkward or clumsy and has trouble with fine motors
Source: Preventive Pediatric Health Care Handbook (an official publication of Philippine Pediatric Society)
M. Francisco Children's Medical Clinic 