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Social
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
What it means if your child is not yet showing social relationship and reciprocity
Social relationship and reciprocity is the two-way dance of connection — shared smiles, turn-taking, pointing to show things, and enjoying people. Between 3 and 7 years children develop this at different paces, so a quieter child is often fine. But if your child rarely shares attention, seldom joins back-and-forth play, or isn't interested in connecting, a calm developmental check is wise — not a diagnosis, simply early opportunity, because support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing social responsiveness?
Social responsiveness is how your child notices and joins in with other people — responding to their name, sharing smiles, taking turns and enjoying play. If a 3-to-7-year-old isn't yet showing this, it's not a diagnosis but a good reason for a calm developmental check, because responsive connection grows well with early support. Watch for little response to name, few shared moments, and difficulty with back-and-forth play, especially alongside speech or play differences.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing social sharing?
If your toddler isn't yet showing social sharing — pointing to show you things, bringing toys over, or checking your face to share a moment — it most often means the skill is still developing, especially in younger toddlers. It is not a diagnosis. A gentle developmental screen is worthwhile because early, play-based support works very well at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing social skills?
For a toddler aged 1–3, social skills like sharing and turn-taking are still unfolding and arrive at very different speeds — not showing every skill usually means more time and practice is needed, not that something is wrong. Seek a developmental check if there is little eye contact, no shared smiling, no pointing or showing, no response to their name, or any loss of skills. This is a reason to observe early, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing social understanding?
If your 3-to-7-year-old isn't yet showing social understanding — reading feelings, taking turns, sharing interest, joining play — it is not a diagnosis. Social skills grow at different paces and respond well to early, playful support. Watch the pattern over weeks; a cluster of flags is a cue for a gentle developmental check, not alarm.
Read the answer AnswerToddler not showing socialisation: what it means
If your toddler (1–3 years) isn't yet showing much socialisation, it usually means social skills are still emerging at their own pace — not a diagnosis. Parallel and solo play are normal. Seek a developmental screen if several social signs (eye contact, pointing, responding to name, imitation) are missing together, or if any skills are lost, because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing special interests?
Between 3 and 7, children find a favourite topic or toy at very different paces, and many play broadly before a clear special interest emerges — so not yet showing one is usually about timing, not a problem. What matters more is the bigger picture: whether your child enjoys connecting, shares joy with you, and plays in varied ways. A developmental screen is wise only if several social and play signs appear together, not because one interest is missing.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing turn-taking skills?
Turn-taking develops gradually between ages 3 and 7 and is often uneven at first — if your child isn't showing it yet, it usually means they need more practice, not a diagnosis. Watch for difficulty with simple turn games, talking over others, or limited shared attention, especially when these appear together. A developmental check is wise if turn-taking is well behind peers or comes with other communication differences — early, play-based support works well.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Indicators of Autism Spectrum for Paediatricians
Watch for persistent social-communication differences and restricted, repetitive behaviours across settings, not explained by hearing loss or global delay. Refer most urgently on any skill regression, no babble or gesture by 12 months, no single words by 16 months, or no two-word phrases by 24 months — full ICD-11 criteria are not required for referral.
Read the answer AnswerEarly indicators of conduct-dissocial disorder for paediatricians
Watch for a repetitive, persistent pattern that violates others' rights or major age norms — aggression, deceit, destruction, serious rule-breaking — sustained over months across settings, not a single incident. Early onset (under 10) and callous-unemotional traits raise concern; screen for ADHD, trauma and safeguarding in parallel.
Read the answer AnswerEarly indicators of Oppositional Defiant Disorder for paediatricians
ODD presents as a persistent (6+ month) pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behaviour and vindictiveness that is pervasive across settings and functionally impairing — beyond normative limit-testing. Key clinician task is excluding mimics (ADHD, language/hearing difficulty, anxiety, trauma) and referring when the pattern is pervasive and impairing. Diagnosis is a clinical decision, never a screen output.
Read the answer AnswerEarly indicators of Social Communication Difficulties
Watch for a gap between structural language and its social use — weak joint attention, limited gesture/pointing, poor conversational turn-taking and repair, over-literal interpretation and failure to adjust language to listener. Refer when these persist across settings and aren't explained by hearing loss, global delay or autism's restricted behaviours.
Read the answer AnswerEarly autism signs on a home visit
On a home visit, watch how the child shares attention, responds to name, communicates and plays, plus repetitive movements or distress at change. No single sign confirms autism — a persistent pattern, or any loss of skills, means guide the family to a developmental check. Trust parental concern.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Conduct-Dissocial Disorder on a Home Visit
On a home visit, watch for a persistent, cross-setting pattern over many months — repeated aggression, serious rule-breaking, destruction or dishonesty beyond age expectation — not single incidents. Note family stress kindly, refer for review when the pattern persists or risk exists, and never label the child.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of Oppositional Defiant Disorder on a home visit
On a home visit, look for a persistent pattern (6+ months) of angry/irritable mood, argumentative defiance and occasional spitefulness that is frequent for the child's age, shows across settings, and strains family or school life — not ordinary toddler testing. Screen and refer; only a clinician can diagnose.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Social Communication Difficulties on a Home Visit
During a home visit, watch for a child who has words but struggles to use them socially — poor conversational turn-taking, literal understanding, trouble reading tone and body language, and language that doesn't adjust to the listener. These point to Social Communication Difficulties (ICD-11 6A01.22) when they persist across settings and aren't explained by hearing loss or general delay. Screen and refer; only a clinician confirms.
Read the answer AnswerWhat everyday classroom signs might suggest a child has Autism Spectrum?
Classroom signs that may suggest autism include differences in social interaction (limited eye contact, playing alone, not responding to name), communication (delayed or unusual speech, echoing, literal understanding), and a need for sameness with repetitive movements or intense interests. These are observations to share with parents, not a diagnosis — when they persist across the day, suggest a developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerClassroom signs of Conduct-Dissocial Disorder
Conduct-Dissocial Disorder is suggested by a persistent, repetitive months-long pattern of aggression, deceit, rule-breaking and destruction across settings — not single bad days. Teachers should document dated examples and route to pastoral leads and a developmental check, never label a child themselves.
Read the answer AnswerClassroom signs that might suggest Oppositional Defiant Disorder
ODD may show as a persistent six-month-plus pattern of angry or irritable mood, argumentative defiance, and spitefulness that is more frequent and intense than expected for age and disrupts learning. Teachers should notice the pattern across settings and flag it — only a clinician can assess and confirm.
Read the answer AnswerWhat everyday classroom signs might suggest Social Communication Difficulties?
Social Communication Difficulties show up in class as trouble with conversation turn-taking, reading tone and body language, taking idioms literally, and adapting talk to context — even with good grammar and vocabulary. They matter when persistent across settings; only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerSocial Development Signs a Teacher Should Notice and Flag
Teachers can flag a child who rarely joins group play, struggles to share or take turns, finds eye contact and back-and-forth conversation hard, misreads others' feelings, or stays on the edge of the group across weeks. One or two off-days are normal; a pattern that persists or shows in more than one area is worth noting plainly and sharing warmly with parents and a developmental team. These are observations to notice and flag, never to diagnose.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with attachment response?
Between 12 and 36 months, signs your toddler may need support with attachment response include rarely seeking comfort when upset, not turning to you when hurt or scared, very limited eye contact or shared smiles, indifference at separation or reunion, or being equally willing to go off with anyone. These are signs to observe and gently monitor, not to diagnose at home — many settle with time. If a pattern persists across weeks or comes with speech or play concerns, a warm developmental check is the kind next step.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with attention to others?
Between 3 and 7 years, signs a child may need support with attention to others include rarely looking at faces when spoken to, seldom sharing interests by pointing or showing, struggling to notice others' feelings, and finding turn-taking and group play hard. These are signs to observe and note, not to diagnose at home. What matters most is a pattern across settings that persists over several months — and warm, early support helps. A developmental screen is a calm next step.
Read the answer AnswerWhat signs suggest my child may need support with cohesion?
Signs your family's cohesion may need support include a child who rarely seeks comfort or shared moments, avoids joining family routines and activities, shows little warmth or eye contact with close family, or seems persistently withdrawn even in happy togetherness. These are patterns to observe over weeks, not a diagnosis — many families ebb and flow. Concern grows when the pattern persists across months, appears in more than one setting, or comes with sadness or anxiety. Support is warm and family-centred, never about blame.
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