Child development
Development is how children grow physically and emotionally and learn to communicate, think and socialise.
Developmental delay
Some children might need extra support with communication, movement, learning, social skills or everyday activities so they can participate in daily life and reach their goals. This is called developmental delay.
You might be concerned about developmental delay if you notice that, over several months, your child isn’t developing motor, social or language skills at the same rate as other children the same age.
Your child might:
- use fewer words than expected for their age
- find it hard to express their needs or understand instructions
- take longer to learn to sit, crawl or walk
- have difficulty with balance or coordination or tasks like holding a pencil or doing up buttons
- find it hard to make friends or play with other children
- face challenges with changes in routine or managing emotions
- need extra help with eating, dressing or personal care.
Autism
Autism is a variation in the way the brain develops and the way it processes information. This means that Autistic children can experience, understand and interact with the world in particular ways.
Autism looks different for every child. Some children may show many differences in how they communicate, interact, learn or experience the world, while others may show only a few. These differences can change over time and may influence everyday experiences and participation in different ways.
Autism can look different for each child. For example you may notice:
- differences in social communication, including speech and non-speaking ways of communicating, such as using literal language, or different patterns of eye contact
- strong interests and passions, often with deep knowledge or enjoyment of topics, objects or activities
- repeating routines or actions, or stimming to feel calm and comfortable
- sensory differences with heightened or reduced sensitivity to sounds, lights, textures, movements, or other sensory experiences
- strong preference for predictability and routine and finding changes or unexpected situations difficult or overwhelming.
Support through Thriving Kids
If you think your child may have developmental delay or autism, early support can make a big difference.
Depending on your child’s needs, Thriving Kids can:
- provide access to trusted information and practical support and advice for you and your child
- connect you with supports that can help your child’s development or to connect with other families in your area
- offer supports that build the skills, confidence and participation of your child.