Child Development Clinic Near Me
When a child has developmental delay, they don’t have skills that experts expect them to have for their age. Therapy can help them function well and catch up to their peers.
NYU Langone Health’s Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics has a variety of clinics, a therapeutic nursery school, and itinerant teacher programs to help children with development disorders and behavioral issues. We also train future developmental-behavioral pediatricians.
Birth to 3 years
During this milestone, infants build upon their rooting, sucking and grasping reflexes. They begin to move their arms and legs and can lift their heads when lying on their stomachs. They also learn how to transfer objects from one hand to another and reach for items with their feet.
Children in this age range start to understand object permanence and may be able to point out pictures of themselves or their caregivers in picture books. They are also developing their language skills and experimenting with putting words together.
In this stage, parents are a child’s biggest influence. They should be talking to their child, reading to them and singing with them regularly to help brain development. They should also get their child immunized on schedule and visit the doctor for regular checkups. If they are concerned about their child’s development, parents should contact their state’s parent center for information about early intervention programs. They can also use CDC’s free milestone checklists to track their child’s progress.
3 to 5 years
At age 3 to 5, children develop more physically independent skills, such as dressing and toileting themselves. They learn how to play with friends, take turns and share. They also have a greater understanding of the world around them and ask questions, such as ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘why’.
Brain development continues to happen at a rapid pace. Talking with your child, reading to them and singing to them will help their cognitive development immensely.
Your GP or public health nurse will carry out a brief test using a screening tool to see whether your child is developing normally. If they aren’t, they will refer your child for a formal developmental evaluation. This will involve a trained specialist, such as a developmental pediatrician, child psychologist or speech-language pathologist. A formal evaluation may also include observation and tests, such as a hearing and vision screening and a blood sample. Depending on your child’s results, they might recommend early intervention treatment services.
5 to 7 years
By this milestone, children are independent thinkers and have developed a more refined language. They are able to follow simple instructions, and may recognize familiar faces, demonstrate anticipatory behaviors, and can play with toys that interest them.
They can use words and phrases, write their name, and read simple stories. They can also distinguish between small and capital letters and are able to recognise rhymes. They are able to understand the concept of time, and can tell you what day and month it is.
A child’s brain develops very early in life, and many of the things that a parent does can have a significant impact on a baby’s cognitive development. This is why it’s so important that parents talk to their child, read to them, and sing to them – because these everyday activities can help them build the strongest foundations for healthy cognitive development.
7 to 8 years
At this age, children are becoming more independent in ways they think, play, speak and act. They put thoughts together in three or more sentences and use a wider range of words. They may also be able to tell stories and understand complex instructions. They might also start having a harder time managing their emotions and behaviors.
The best way to know if your child is reaching milestones at the right pace is to talk to your doctor about it. Many doctors and nurses are trained in developmental screening. They can do a brief test or ask you to fill out a questionnaire, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaires.
If they find a potential problem, they might refer you to a specialist for a more in-depth evaluation. This could be a developmental pediatrician or a child psychologist or psychiatrist. They can also refer you to a specialist for an eye exam or an MRI.