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What should I do if my child hurts themselves on purpose?
If your child hurts themselves on purpose, stay calm, keep them safe, and treat it as communication of an unmet need rather than naughtiness. Respond gently, reduce triggers, and arrange a developmental and emotional check to understand the cause. Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. under qualified clinician care; seek urgent medical help if injuries are severe.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child is a very picky eater?
Most picky eating is a normal phase best handled with calm, pressure-free, consistent strategies: keep offering varied foods, let your child explore at their own pace, and eat together. Seek a check if your child gags, chokes, refuses whole food groups or textures, or isn't growing well. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child is bothered by clothing tags?
If your child is bothered by clothing tags, start with simple, practical steps: snip out tags, choose soft seamless or tagless clothing, give your child some control, and stay calm and validating. This is a common form of tactile sensitivity that often eases with small adjustments. A developmental check helps if the sensitivity is intense, spreads across many everyday situations, or disrupts dressing, eating, sleep or daily life. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child is clumsy and falls a lot?
Some clumsiness is a normal part of growing up, but frequent falls or trouble learning new physical skills deserve a gentle check. Start with a basic medical look-over for vision, hearing and muscle causes, build coordination through playful movement, and seek a developmental check if it persists. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child is slower than my other children?
Children develop at different paces, so comparing siblings is rarely helpful. Look at your child against age-typical milestones for talking, movement, learning and play — and if they are clearly behind in one or more areas, or if your instinct says so, a developmental check gives clarity. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child is very aggressive?
Aggression in children is usually communication, not character — a sign that a feeling or need is overflowing without the words or self-regulation skills to handle it. Stay calm, keep everyone safe, look for the triggers behind the behaviour, and seek a developmental check if it is frequent, intense or affecting daily life. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child isn't crawling yet?
Crawling appears in most babies between 6 and 10 months, and many healthy children skip it entirely for bottom-shuffling or pulling to stand. Steady progress in strength and movement matters more than crawling itself; offer plenty of tummy time and floor play. Seek a check if your baby isn't bearing weight on the legs by 9–12 months, is persistently stiff or floppy, uses only one side, or loses a skill. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child isn't interested in toys?
If your child isn't interested in toys, watch *how* they explore the world — through people, sounds, movement or everyday objects — and follow their lead, offering fewer, simpler things and playing face to face. Disinterest alone is rarely a concern; a check helps most when it appears alongside limited eye contact, pointing or language. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child isn't potty trained yet?
Most children are potty trained at their own pace, often past age 2 or 3, and a wide range is normal. Stay calm and unpressured, build a gentle routine, and follow your child's readiness signs. Seek a developmental check if delay continues past 3.5–4 years, comes with constipation or distress, or sits alongside other developmental differences. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child isn't putting words together?
If your child isn't combining words by around 24 months, the best step is a warm developmental and speech check rather than waiting — alongside talking, reading and expanding on their words at home. Many children simply need encouragement; some benefit from speech therapy. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child isn't reaching milestones like other kids?
If your child isn't reaching milestones like peers, note what you observe, compare against trusted milestone checklists, keep up rich everyday interaction, and arrange a developmental check rather than waiting. A single delay is rarely alarming, but a structured check tells you whether your child needs more time or early support. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child isn't rolling over?
Most babies roll over between 4 and 6 months, with a wide normal range. Encourage frequent tummy time, free floor play and reaching to one side, and reduce time in seats and carriers. Seek a developmental check if your baby isn't rolling either way by 6–7 months, feels stiff or floppy, uses only one side, or loses skills. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat to do if your child isn't saying any words
If your child isn't saying any words, act early rather than waiting — talk and read daily, follow your child's lead, check hearing, and seek a speech and language check if there is no babbling or gesture by 12 months, no single words by 16–18 months, or any loss of skills. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child isn't sitting up yet?
Most babies sit with support around 6 months and sit independently by about 9 months, within a wide healthy range. Keep offering tummy time and supported sitting practice, and seek a developmental check if your child is past 9 months without sitting, seems very floppy or stiff, or has lost a skill. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child isn't walking yet?
Most children walk between 12 and 18 months, with a wide normal range. If your child isn't walking by 18 months, isn't pulling to stand or cruising by around 12 months, uses only one side of the body, or has lost a skill, book a friendly developmental check. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child lines up their toys?
Lining up toys is a common, normal part of play that reflects an interest in order and patterns — on its own it is not a sign of any condition. What matters is the whole picture of how your child plays, communicates and connects. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child only says a few words?
If your child only says a few words, enrich their language daily, note what you observe, and arrange a developmental check if they are behind typical milestones — early support helps most children flourish. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child prefers to play alone?
A child who prefers to play alone is often perfectly healthy — solo play builds imagination and independence. What matters is whether your child can connect and play with others when they want to, versus seeming unable to join in, share or read social cues. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child puts everything in their mouth?
Mouthing objects is a normal, expected way babies and young toddlers explore the world, usually peaking in the first year and easing by around age two. Keep the environment safe by removing small or hazardous items, offer satisfying chewables, and gently redirect rather than only saying no. A check is worth considering if intense mouthing continues past age two or three, involves non-food items, or comes with feeding or developmental delays. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child refuses to eat solid foods?
If your child refuses solid foods, keep mealtimes calm and pressure-free, offer small portions with one new food, match textures to your child's chewing skill, and never force feeding. Seek a developmental and feeding check if refusal persists, your child gags or chokes often, eats very few foods, or is losing weight. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child repeats words or phrases over and over?
Repeating words or phrases (echolalia) is a common and often normal part of how children learn to talk — frequently it is a way of communicating or self-soothing. Most toddlers grow out of immediate repetition by around age three. Seek a gentle developmental check if repetition continues beyond the early years or comes with other communication differences. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child rocks back and forth?
Rocking back and forth is most often a normal, self-soothing behaviour — observe calmly when and how often it happens, offer rhythmic alternatives, and keep tracking milestones. Seek a developmental check if it is intense, hard to interrupt, causes injury, or appears alongside delays in speech, eye contact or connection. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child runs off in public?
If your child runs off in public, prioritise safety in the moment — stay calm, secure the environment, and use rehearsed cues like "stop", hand-holding and ID tags. Most young children outgrow impulsive bolting, but frequent or dangerous running off warrants a developmental check. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child seems behind other children their age?
If your child seems behind peers, note what you're seeing, compare against trusted milestone guides rather than other children, rule out hearing and vision, and seek a developmental check early. Children develop at different paces and early support works best. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
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