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Concern
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
What does a delay in Language Development mean for my child?
A language delay means your child is learning to understand or use words more slowly than the typical pace for ages 3–7 — a description of where they are now, not a diagnosis or a fixed limit. It can affect understanding, expression, or both, and often has identifiable causes such as hearing or limited exposure. With early, play-based support most children make strong gains.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Language mean for my child?
A language delay means your toddler is reaching talking and understanding milestones a little later than most children their age — it is not a diagnosis or a label. Between 12 and 36 months there is a wide healthy range, and many late talkers catch up well, especially with early support. Watch both understanding and talking, and seek a developmental check if words are slow, your child isn't combining words by two, or loses skills. Early action is opportunity, not alarm.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Manual Dexterity mean for my child?
A delay in manual dexterity means your child's hands are taking longer to master fine, precise skills like holding a crayon, buttons or building blocks. Between 3 and 7 these skills grow at very different rates, so a delay is a signal to look closely — not a diagnosis. With play-based occupational therapy support, most children make strong progress, because the hands learn well when given the right practice.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Memory and Learning mean for my child?
A delay in Memory and Learning means your 3–7 year old takes longer to take in, hold, and use new information — recalling words, following instructions, learning routines. It is not a diagnosis. It signals that a developmental check is wise now, because these skills respond strongly to early, playful support.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in memory mean for my child?
A delay in memory means your toddler is taking longer than expected to hold on to, recall or use everyday information — like finding a hidden toy, recognising routines, or following a short instruction. At 12–36 months this is one thread in a fast-changing cognitive picture, not a diagnosis. Seek a developmental check if your child isn't learning new words, struggles to recognise familiar people or routines, or if memory difficulty travels with delays in talking, play or social connection. Early support works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Mobility mean for my child?
A delay in Mobility means your toddler is reaching movement milestones — sitting, crawling, standing or walking — later than the usual window. It is not a diagnosis on its own, and many children catch up well with the right support. Seek a calm developmental check if your child isn't bearing weight, isn't walking near 18 months, strongly favours one side, feels very stiff or floppy, or loses a skill. Early understanding means earlier, gentler help.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Motor Development Mean for My Child?
A delay in motor development means your child is reaching movement milestones — gross motor like running and climbing, or fine motor like drawing and dressing — later than most children for their age. It is a reason to look closely, not a diagnosis. With early, play-based support most children make strong progress, because young bodies and brains respond well.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Motor-Skills mean for my child?
A motor-skills delay means your toddler is reaching movement milestones — sitting, walking, climbing or using their hands — a little later than most children their age. In 1–3 year olds this is common, often responds well to play-based support, and is not a diagnosis. Seek a gentle developmental check if your child isn't walking by around 18 months, seems stiff or floppy, struggles with small hand tasks, falls often, or loses a skill once had. Early support at this age works wonderfully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Non-Verbal mean for my child?
A delay in spoken words means your toddler is reaching talking milestones later than most peers — but it does not mean they cannot communicate; many connect through gestures, pointing and play. Watch for few or no words by 18–24 months, no two-word phrases by two years, little pointing or response to name, or loss of skills. This is a reason for an early, gentle developmental and hearing check, not a diagnosis — and early speech support works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Oral mean for my child?
A delay in oral skills means your toddler's mouth, lips, tongue and jaw are taking longer to coordinate for eating, drinking and early sounds — not a diagnosis. Seek a developmental check if your child refuses textured food, coughs or chokes at meals, dribbles a lot, or has very few clear sounds by age 2. These muscles respond beautifully to early, playful support, so earlier observation means earlier progress.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Organization mean for my child?
For a toddler, organization means the early ability to hold a small plan in mind — fetching a toy, following a two-step request, sequencing simple play. A delay means your child is taking longer than peers to manage these steps. It is not a diagnosis and not a measure of intelligence — it is a gentle signal that a calm developmental check is wise now, because these skills respond well to early, playful support.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Parent-Characteristics mean for my child?
A flag in Parent-Characteristics is not about blame or anything wrong with your child — it describes the support, routines, stress and confidence around the family (ICF e3). It means the environment could use more support, which is one of the most changeable and hopeful parts of a child's picture. It is never a diagnosis, and strengthening parent wellbeing reliably helps a toddler thrive.
Read the answer AnswerWhat a delay in parenting challenges means for your child
"Parenting challenges" is not a delay or diagnosis in your child — it describes the everyday stresses and pressures of raising a child. It points to the support a family needs, not something wrong inside the child. When families are well supported, children thrive, so naming a challenge is the first step to help. Seek a developmental check only if you also notice your 3-to-7-year-old struggling far more than peers with talking, playing or losing skills.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Participation in Tasks mean for my child?
A delay in Participation in Tasks (ICF d210) means a 3-to-7-year-old finds it harder than expected to start, stay with, sequence and finish everyday undertakings — dressing, tidying, joining a group, following simple steps. It is a description of how your child engages, not a diagnosis. Many children grow these skills with structure and practice, and a developmental check helps match the right support.
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 Permanence mean for my child?
Object permanence is your child's understanding that things still exist when out of sight — seen in peek-a-boo and searching for hidden toys. A delay means this idea is taking a little longer, which is common and often catches up. It is not a diagnosis; it's a gentle reason for a calm developmental check, since early play-based support works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Personal Development mean for my child?
A delay in Personal Development (ICF b180) means your 3-to-7-year-old is taking longer to build self-skills like managing feelings, growing independent and feeling confident — a signal to look closer, not a diagnosis. With warm, early, play-based support, most children make strong progress, and earlier help means better outcomes.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Physical Development Mean for My Child?
A delay in physical development means your 3-to-7-year-old is reaching movement milestones — running, climbing, jumping, or hand skills like drawing — later than most peers. It is a reason to look closely, not a diagnosis. Watch big-body and fine-motor skills, and seek a check if several lag or a skill is lost, because early support helps most children make strong progress.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Planning & Organization Mean for My Child?
A delay in Planning & Organization means your 3-to-7-year-old needs more time and support to think ahead, sequence steps and arrange their tasks — an emerging skill, not a diagnosis. These executive-function skills grow slowly through childhood and respond well to short, visual routines and playful, structured help. A developmental check confirms the picture and guides early support.
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 a Delay in Practical Skills Means for Your Toddler
Practical skills are everyday self-care abilities — feeding, dressing, drinking from a cup, joining routines. A delay means your toddler is taking longer to build these adaptive skills; it is not a diagnosis but a gentle signal that a developmental check is worthwhile, because support at this age works well. Watch for difficulty with finger-feeding, using a spoon, helping with dressing, or when delays travel with slow talking or motor differences. Occupational therapy gently builds these skills through play.
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.
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