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Social
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
What Does a Delay in Imitation Mean for My Child?
Imitation — copying your actions, sounds and play — is how toddlers learn between 12 and 36 months. A delay means your child takes longer to copy than peers; it is not a diagnosis. Because imitation feeds language, social skills and play, seek a gentle developmental check if your child rarely copies gestures by 15–18 months, doesn't copy sounds or words, shows little pretend play by 2–3 years, or if the delay travels with few words, limited eye contact or no pointing. Early support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Interests mean for my child?
Between 12 and 36 months, interests are how toddlers show delight and draw you in to share it. A delay means few favourites, little curiosity, or rarely bringing things to share. This is not a diagnosis — it is a reason for a gentle early developmental check, because shared interests fuel language and connection, and early support works best now.
Read the answer AnswerWhat a delay in joint attention means for your child
Joint attention is your toddler's ability to share a moment with you — following your point, pointing to show, or glancing between a toy and your face. A delay means your child may need gentle help building social connection, and it's one of the earliest things a clinician reviews. It is not a diagnosis; it simply shows where to begin, and early playful support at 12–36 months works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in People mean for my child?
A delay in People means your toddler is showing fewer social connecting skills than expected for their age — sharing smiles, responding to their name, pointing to show you things, or enjoying back-and-forth play. This is not a diagnosis or a verdict on the future; it is a signal that a gentle, early clinician check is wise now. Social skills respond especially well to early, playful support at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Play & Imagination mean for my child?
A delay in play & imagination means your 3-to-7-year-old is taking longer to develop pretend play, role-play and creative storytelling than peers — not a diagnosis. Because imaginative play builds language, social skills and flexible thinking, a delay is a signal to look closer and offer playful support. A developmental check now turns small differences into early opportunities.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Play mean for my child?
A delay in play means a toddler may not yet pretend, share attention or play with others as expected for their age — a signal, not a diagnosis. Seek a developmental check if there is little pretend play by around 2 years, mostly repetitive toy use, or if play sits alongside delays in talking, pointing or social connection. Play grows fast at 12–36 months, and early support works well.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Play Skills Mean for My Child?
A delay in play skills means your child's play looks simpler, more repetitive, or more solitary than expected for their age — not a diagnosis, but a reason for a calm developmental check. Play is a learnable skill closely tied to social and language growth, and early playful support at 3–7 years works beautifully. A clinician's observation builds the full picture.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Pretend-Play Mean for My Child?
Pretend-play usually begins around 18 months and grows through the toddler years. A delay is not a diagnosis — it's a reason for a gentle developmental check, especially if it travels with delays in talking, gestures or social connection. Because pretend-play is closely linked to language and social understanding, noticing it early gives a fuller picture, and playful support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Relationship mean for my child?
A delay in Relationship means your toddler is taking longer to build warm, back-and-forth connection — seeking comfort, sharing smiles, looking to you, or showing interest in other children. It is not a diagnosis and not your fault; it simply means a gentle, structured developmental check is wise now. Between 12 and 36 months the social-emotional world grows fastest, so early support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Repetitive mean for my child?
Repetitive play and movements are normal in toddlers aged 1–3. A delay means these patterns seem unusually intense, hard to interrupt, or are crowding out flexible play and social back-and-forth — a reason for a gentle developmental check, not a diagnosis. Early, playful support builds flexibility and connection.
Read the answer AnswerWhat a delay in Response-to-Name means for your child
Responding to one's name usually settles in by 9–15 months. An occasional miss is normal — toddlers get absorbed in play. The time for a developmental check is when a child consistently doesn't respond across people and settings, especially alongside little eye contact, no pointing or few words. Always rule out hearing first. This signals early support, not a diagnosis — and at this age, support works wonderfully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Routine mean for my child?
A delay in routine means your 1-to-3-year-old needs more support to settle into the predictable rhythms of the day — transitions, mealtimes, sleep and coping with change. This is common at this age and not a diagnosis. Seek a developmental check if difficulties are intense, persist, disrupt family life, or come with social or language delays, because early support works beautifully now.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Social Awareness Mean for My Child?
A delay in social awareness means your 3-to-7-year-old is taking longer to notice and respond to other people's feelings, cues and social rules — like sharing attention, turn-taking and reading faces. It is a reason to observe and support early, not a diagnosis. With play-based help, many children make strong gains.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Social Communication mean for my child?
A social communication delay means your child is taking longer to use language and gestures for connecting with others — turn-taking, sharing, asking, adjusting to listeners. It describes where they are now, not a diagnosis, and not their future. With early, playful support most children progress well. Seek a developmental check if several signs are present or your instinct says connection is harder than for peers.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Social Development Mean for My Child?
A delay in social development means your child is taking longer than peers to build everyday people-skills — joining play, sharing, making friends — not a diagnosis. Between 3 and 7, social skills grow at very different speeds, and most children flourish with gentle, early support. It is a reason to look closer with a clinician, never a verdict on your child's future.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Social Interaction mean for my child?
A delay in social interaction means your 3-to-7-year-old is taking longer to build the back-and-forth skills of relating to others — sharing attention, taking turns, joining play, reading feelings. It is a reason to observe and support, not a diagnosis, and most children grow these skills well with early, playful encouragement.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Social mean for my child?
A delay in social development means your toddler is reaching milestones like sharing smiles, pointing, turn-taking or playing with others a little later than peers. At 12–36 months this is common and not a diagnosis — it simply means a gentle developmental check is wise, because social skills respond beautifully to early, play-based support. Watch for limited shared attention, little back-and-forth, not responding to name, or loss of a skill, and seek a check if these appear.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Social Motivation Mean for My Child?
A delay in Social Motivation means your child's natural pull towards sharing, connecting and playing with others is emerging more slowly than expected for their age. It is a reason to observe gently and arrange a developmental check — not a diagnosis. Social drive responds strongly to early, play-based support, so noticing it now is an opportunity to help your child connect and learn more joyfully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Social Participation Mean for My Child?
A delay in Social Participation (ICF d910) means your child finds it harder than peers to join shared play, take turns and follow group activities. It is not a diagnosis. For many children aged 3 to 7 these skills grow quickly with gentle, play-based support, so a calm developmental check helps identify what is driving it and how best to help.
Read the answer AnswerWhat a Delay in Social Skills Means for Your Child
A delay in social skills means your child is taking longer to build everyday abilities like sharing, turn-taking, joining play and reading feelings — not a diagnosis. Between ages 3 and 7 these skills grow at very different speeds, and most children flourish with warm, play-based support. A clinician's check helps you understand your child's unique pattern and start early, gentle help.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in socialization mean for my child?
A delay in socialization means your toddler is taking longer to develop the back-and-forth of relating to people — sharing smiles, imitating, and showing interest in others. At 12–36 months this is a reason to observe and check gently, not a diagnosis. Social skills grow at different paces, and where a true gap exists, early support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing attachment response?
Between 12 and 36 months, attachment response — seeking comfort, checking in, settling with you — grows at each child's own pace, and a quieter pattern is often just temperament. Seek a developmental check if your child rarely seeks comfort, doesn't look for you when distressed, shares little eye contact or smiling, or shows delays in words or play. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis, because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing attention to others?
Attention to others means noticing people — responding to their name, sharing glances and smiles, watching and joining others. Between 3 and 7 years this varies with temperament and mood. If a child rarely tunes in to people, doesn't respond to their name, or shares little eye contact, a calm developmental check is wise — not as a diagnosis, but because early support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing cohesion?
Cohesion is your child's sense of warmth and belonging in the family — and between 3 and 7 years it is still actively developing. If your child isn't yet seeking shared moments, this usually reflects temperament, routine or a stressful patch rather than any fixed trait or diagnosis. Seek a gentle developmental check if low connection travels with delays in talking, play or relating to others, or if a once-connected child suddenly pulls away. Early, calm observation turns small questions into early opportunities.
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