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Behaviour Therapy
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
Should I Worry About Difficulty Sharing in a 4-Year-Old?
Difficulty sharing in a 4-year-old is almost always normal — true sharing is a skill that grows slowly and isn't fully mastered until around five or six. There is usually no cause for worry. A gentle developmental check is wise only if it comes alongside broader difficulties with talking, playing with other children, or understanding others' feelings.
Read the answer AnswerExtreme Shyness in a 1-Year-Old
Shyness or wariness around new people is developmentally typical and reassuring in a one-year-old — it usually reflects healthy attachment, not a problem. Many babies show stranger wariness and prefer familiar caregivers around this age. Seek a developmental check only if shyness travels with differences in eye contact, shared smiles, babbling, gestures or responding to their name — and that is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about extreme shyness in a 2-year-old?
Extreme shyness in a 2-year-old is usually normal, healthy temperament — most cautious toddlers warm up with time, patience and gentle social opportunities. A developmental check is worth arranging only if the shyness never eases even with familiar people, or comes with very few words, little eye contact or shared smiling, no pointing, or no response to their name. This is reason to look early, not a diagnosis — early support works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerExtreme Shyness in a 3-Year-Old: Should You Worry?
Extreme shyness at three is usually a normal temperament trait, not a disorder — many children are naturally slow to warm up and grow more confident over time. Seek a developmental check if the shyness is present everywhere including at home, comes with very few words, little eye contact even with familiar people, or distress that doesn't settle. This is timely observation, not a diagnosis — early support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about extreme shyness in a 4-year-old?
Extreme shyness in a four-year-old is usually part of natural temperament — many children are simply cautious and warm up slowly, which is healthy. Seek a gentle developmental check if the shyness is so intense it stops your child speaking or playing across many settings, causes real distress, or comes with differences in talking, eye contact or connecting with others. This is a reason to observe and, if needed, assess early — not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I Worry About Extreme Shyness in a 5-Year-Old?
Extreme shyness at five is usually a temperament style, not a disorder, and many cautious children flourish with patience and gentle encouragement. Seek a developmental check if the shyness is so intense your child cannot speak at all in certain settings, blocks friendships and learning, causes real distress, or comes with delays in talking or connecting. This is not a diagnosis — it simply means an early, friendly clinician's look is worthwhile, because support works best now.
Read the answer AnswerShould I Worry About Extreme Shyness in a 6-Year-Old?
Shyness at six is very common and usually a temperament trait, not a problem. Seek a developmental check if the shyness causes real distress most days, stops your child speaking outside home (selective mutism), or blocks friendships and learning. This is a reason to observe early — not a diagnosis — because gentle support works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerHead-Banging in a 1-Year-Old: Should You Worry?
Head-banging at one year is usually normal self-soothing, often at bedtime or during frustration, and typically fades by three or four years. Seek a developmental check if it causes injury, fills large parts of the day, is very hard to interrupt, or comes with delays in talking, eye contact, responding to name or social play. This is a reason to observe early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about head-banging in a 2-year-old?
Head-banging in a 2-year-old is usually typical self-soothing — at bedtime, during tantrums, or when settling — and it generally fades as language and play grow. Seek a developmental check if the banging causes injury, is very hard to interrupt, crowds out play, or comes with delays in talking, social connection or motor skills. Any stare-and-stiffen episode needs prompt medical review. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about head-banging in a 3-year-old?
Head-banging in a 3-year-old is usually a normal self-soothing or rhythm habit — common at bedtime or during tantrums — and tends to fade as language and self-calming grow. Seek a developmental check if it causes injury, is very hard to interrupt, crowds out play, or comes with delays in talking, social connection or play. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about head-banging in a young baby?
Rhythmic head-banging, rocking and head-rolling are common and usually normal self-soothing behaviours in babies, often starting at 6–12 months and fading by 2–3 years. Babies typically regulate how hard they bump, so injury is rare. Seek a developmental check if it breaks skin or causes real injury, dominates the day, is hard to interrupt, or comes with delays in babbling, eye contact, response to name or motor skills. Any stare-and-stiffen episode needs prompt medical review. This is reason to assess, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about hitting in a 1-year-old?
Hitting at one year old is common and developmentally normal — toddlers have big feelings, very few words, and an impulse-control system that is still very young. It is rarely true aggression. Stay calm, gently stop the hand, name the feeling and model gentle hands. Seek a developmental check only if hitting travels with delays in words, eye contact, pointing or social connection, or with loss of a skill.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about hitting others in a 2-year-old?
Hitting at age two is very common and usually a normal stage — toddlers have big feelings but few words and little impulse control. It typically fades as language grows and you coach calmer responses. Seek a developmental check if the hitting stays frequent and intense beyond three, your child is very hard to soothe, or it comes with few words, little eye contact or limited social connection. This means 'let's look' early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about a 3-year-old hitting others?
For most 3-year-olds, hitting is a normal, common part of development — a sign that big feelings have outpaced small words, not aggression or a disorder. Calm, consistent guidance and supporting communication usually ease it. Seek a developmental check if hitting is frequent, intense, hard to redirect, causes real injury, or travels with delays in talking, connecting or playing. This is a reason to observe early, not to be alarmed.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about hitting others in a 4-year-old?
Occasional hitting at four is usually a sign that big feelings have outpaced the words and self-control to manage them — very common at this age. Seek a developmental check if the hitting is frequent, hard to settle, hurts people, is getting worse, or comes with delays in talking, playing or connecting. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis, because support works best now.
Read the answer AnswerIntense or Unusual Fears in a 2-Year-Old
Intense or unusual fears are very common and usually healthy at age two, reflecting a fast-growing imagination. They typically ease with comfort and fade over weeks. Seek a calm developmental check only if a fear stops sleep, eating or leaving home, is very hard to soothe, or comes with delays in talking, social connection or play. This is a reason to look gently, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerIntense or Unusual Fears in a 3-Year-Old
Intense and even unusual fears — the dark, monsters, loud machines, dogs — are typical at age three as imagination grows, and most fade with comfort, routine and time. Seek a calm developmental check only if a fear is extreme, lasts for months, blocks sleeping, eating, playing or leaving home, or comes with differences in talking, connecting or coping. This means assess early, not diagnose — early reassurance and support work beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerIntense or Unusual Fears in a 4-Year-Old
Intense or unusual fears — the dark, monsters, loud noises, animals, separation — are very common and usually typical at four, as imagination outpaces logic. Most fade with reassurance and time. Seek a calm developmental check if a fear stops your child sleeping, eating, playing or going out, persists strongly for many weeks, causes big physical panic, or travels with other developmental worries. This is a reason to look gently, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerIntense or Unusual Fears at Five
At five, intense or unusual fears — of the dark, monsters, dogs or loud sounds — are very common and usually typical as imagination grows. Seek a calm developmental check if a fear stops your child sleeping, eating, going to school or playing, lasts most days for weeks, causes out-of-proportion distress, or travels with differences in talking, connecting or coping. This is a reason to observe early, not a diagnosis — early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerIntense or unusual fears in a 6-year-old
Intense fears are very common and usually normal at six, as a child's imagination races ahead. Seek a calm developmental and emotional check if a fear stops everyday life — refusing school, not sleeping, panic that won't settle, or fears lasting many weeks and growing rather than easing. This is not a diagnosis; it means early support is wise, and it works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerLimited Eye Contact in a 1-Year-Old
At twelve months, eye contact naturally comes and goes, and occasional limited eye contact alone is rarely a worry. What matters more is the whole picture of connection — shared smiles, responding to name, pointing, babbling and gestures. Seek a gentle developmental check if eye contact is persistently absent and travels with other differences. This is reason to observe early, never a diagnosis, because early support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about limited eye contact in a 2-year-old?
At two, toddlers naturally glance away and get absorbed in play, so limited eye contact on its own is rarely a worry. Seek a calm developmental check if reduced eye contact travels with other differences — few words, not responding to their name, no pointing or sharing smiles, or little interest in playing together. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis, because support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about limited eye contact in a 3-year-old?
Some variation in eye contact is normal, but by three most children meet your gaze during play and sharing. Limited eye contact alone is not a diagnosis, yet at this age a calm developmental check is wise — especially if it comes with delays in talking, sharing attention or social connection. Early observation means early opportunity, because support works best at three.
Read the answer AnswerLimited Eye Contact in a Young Baby
In a very young baby, eye contact is still developing — newborns see only at short range and learn to fix and hold a gaze gradually over the first few months, so brief or fleeting eye contact early on is usually normal. By around 2–3 months most babies begin to hold your gaze and offer a social smile. Mention any concern at your routine baby check, or sooner if there's no fixing or following of faces by 2–3 months, no social smile by 3 months, or worries about how the eyes look or move. This is a reason for a gentle check, never a diagnosis — early support works best.
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