Key Milestones Checked During Developmental Screenings

As a parent, you may be shocked at how fast your little one can grow. That is why keeping up with your annual wellness checkups at Kids First Pediatrics matters. Schedule your regular developmental screening in Plainfield, IL, with Dr. Kristine Liberty, Dr. Steven Kovar, and Dr. Jessica Ciszek, who will check off key milestones or note where intervention is necessary.

Why Is a Developmental Screening in Plainfield, IL, Necessary?

These screenings are essential to ensure your child is developing appropriately for their age. Pediatricians check your child's development from language, physical, behavioral, and emotional markers. If there are any delays, you can catch them early and ideally get your child back on track. For example, if a child is becoming obese, early intervention with more physical activity and dietary adjustments can prevent them from becoming obese and developing chronic diseases. Children who have language delays can have the necessary educational interventions. Children with stunted growth may have sleep issues, as the growth hormone is usually more active at night.

What Milestones Do Doctors Check?

The milestones that your pediatricians check depend on your child's age. For example, infants up to one year old are checked for motor skills, including rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and standing without support. Around six months, your baby should sit up with little support and walk without support around the end of the first year. Doctors also note simple social interactions with babies, such as making eye contact, smiling, and following people with their eyes. 

Toddlers should develop their language skills by using simple words and short sentences. Your average two-year-old should have a vocabulary of about 50 words. Kids between the ages of three and five should be able to use scissors, speak in full sentences, tell stories, count, and recognize colors and shapes. Socially, they should be able to cooperate with other children and express appropriate emotions. 

School-age children between the ages of five and 12 should continue to refine their balance and coordination, reading and writing skills, and ability to follow multi-step instructions. They should also have better logical thinking and problem-solving skills and normal social interactions that include building friendships and relationships.

At Kids First Pediatrics, Dr. Liberty, Dr. Kovar, and Dr. Ciszek want to ensure your child is developing on schedule or can receive the proper interventions. When you need a trustworthy developmental screening from a team of caring doctors in Plainfield, IL, call us at 815-609-5437.