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Book Assessment
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
What does it mean if my child is not yet showing physical play?
Between 1 and 3 years, less physical play often reflects temperament, fewer chances to move, or a cautious style, and grows naturally with confidence. It is worth a developmental check when little physical play comes alongside delays in walking, balance or coordination, or in talking and connecting. This is a reason to screen early, not a diagnosis — early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing picture description?
Picture description — saying what is happening in a picture — develops gradually between about 3 and 7 years. If your child isn't doing it yet, it usually means the underlying language skills are still building; it is not a diagnosis. A developmental check is wise mainly if it sits alongside other language concerns, because early, play-based support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing play?
Between 3 and 7 years, play — pretending, sharing, taking turns and exploring — is how children learn and connect. If your child isn't yet showing play, or plays in a very repetitive or solitary way, it doesn't mean something is wrong, but it is a meaningful reason to seek a calm developmental check, especially if it travels with delays in talking or social connection. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis — and play-based support works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing practical skills?
"Practical" skills are everyday hands-on abilities — dressing, feeding, simple problem-solving, self-care. Between 3 and 7 these emerge at different paces, so a child not yet showing them is usually on their own timeline, not behind for life. It is not a diagnosis; it means a gentle developmental check is wise, because early, playful support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing pretend play?
Pretend play usually emerges between about 18 and 30 months. If your toddler isn't showing it yet, it most often means they need more time, modelling and play opportunity — not a diagnosis. Watch the whole picture: eye contact, pointing, words and responding to name. If a few things line up, arrange a friendly developmental check, because early play-based support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing quantitative reasoning?
In toddlers aged 1–3, quantitative reasoning — the early sense of more and less, big and small, one and many — is only just beginning and looks nothing like school maths. If it isn't showing yet, that's usually normal and not a diagnosis. Watch the foundations beneath it (attention, language, playful interest) and seek a gentle developmental check if several broader signs appear together.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing quantity comparison?
If your child isn't yet comparing quantities (which has more or fewer), it is not a diagnosis. This early maths skill grows between about 3 and 7 years at different paces. Watch the whole picture — counting, language and attention — and support it through everyday play. A developmental screen brings clarity if you remain unsure.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet relating to people?
If your toddler is not yet relating to people — sharing eye contact, smiles, pointing or joining in — it is not a diagnosis. Between 12 and 36 months these skills bloom at different rates. It simply means a developmental check is wise now, because early, playful support works best. A clinician can build a clear baseline and shape warm support around your child's strengths.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing relationship skills?
Between 1 and 3 years, relationship skills are still developing and toddlers vary widely. A child not yet showing them usually needs more time and warm interaction, not a diagnosis. Seek a developmental check if several gentle flags appear together — little eye contact, no pointing to share, no interest in others, or any loss of social skills — because early, playful support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing repetitive behaviour?
Most children do not need to show repetitive behaviours, and their absence is reassuring rather than a worry. Repetitive behaviours are not a milestone every child must reach. What matters is your child's whole development — communication, connection, flexible play and growth across areas. If you notice broader concerns, a developmental check is wise, not because of repetition but to see the full picture early.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing repetitive behaviors?
Not yet showing repetitive behaviours is usually reassuring and ordinary — repetitive movements are not a milestone every child must reach, and their absence is neither a red flag nor a green light. What matters at 12–36 months is whether your child connects, communicates and plays flexibly. Seek a developmental check only if you notice other signs together, such as few words, no pointing, or not responding to their name. This is general information, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet responding to their name?
If your child doesn't turn to their name, first check hearing — many sound responses tell you a lot. At 3 and older, consistent non-response in quiet settings, especially with limited eye contact or pointing, is a reason for a hearing check and developmental review, not a diagnosis. Responding to name links hearing, attention and social connection, and early observation means earlier support.
Read the answer AnswerWhat if my child isn't showing responsible decision making yet?
Between 3 and 7, responsible decision making is still developing — children this age act mostly on impulse and need adult guidance, which is typically normal. The brain's planning and impulse-control systems mature last. Seek a developmental check only if difficulty with choices comes alongside delays in language, understanding instructions, social play or managing emotions. This is reason to observe early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing restricted interests?
Restricted interests — an intense, narrow focus on one topic or object — are one possible feature of autism, so their absence in a 12-to-36-month-old is reassuring, not concerning. Most toddlers explore many toys and shift attention easily, which is healthy, flexible curiosity. The absence of restricted interests is never a worry on its own; what matters is the wider picture of communication, social connection and play.
Read the answer AnswerWhat It Means If Your Toddler Isn't Showing Risk Awareness Yet
Most toddlers aged 12–36 months have not yet built strong risk awareness — the thinking that predicts danger develops gradually through play, language and watching caregivers. On its own, in a connected, exploring child, low caution is usually typical toddler boldness. Seek a gentle developmental check if little caution travels with delays in talking, social connection or movement, or if your child does not respond to warnings or check back at you. This is a reason to observe early, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing rotational control?
If your toddler isn't yet showing rotational control — turning, rolling and twisting smoothly — it usually means this movement skill is still developing, not that something is wrong. Children build rotation at their own pace. Seek a developmental check if rotation lags clearly behind other movements, if the trunk seems very stiff or floppy, or if your instinct says something is off — not as a diagnosis, but because early observation helps.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing routine adaptability?
At 12–36 months, wanting sameness and resisting change is completely normal — routine adaptability grows slowly with language, play and feeling secure. Seek a developmental check only if rigidity is intense, gets in the way of eating, sleeping, going out or playing, or comes with delays in talking, social connection or strong repetitive play. This is a reason to observe gently, not a diagnosis — early, calm support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing routine participation?
Routine participation means your toddler joining everyday moments — meals, dressing, bath, bedtime — by anticipating, helping or following a simple step. Between 12 and 36 months this grows gradually, so not fully joining in yet is often just a child's own timing. Seek a gentle developmental check if your child shows little interest in routines, can't follow simple one-step requests, is very distressed by ordinary transitions, or this comes alongside delays in talking, play or social connection. This is a reason to observe early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing running?
Most toddlers start running between 18 and 24 months, after a few months of steady walking. A child walking confidently but not yet running is often simply on their own timeline. Seek a developmental check if your child is past 2 and not walking well, has lost a skill, falls very often, or shows big-body delays alongside delays in talking or playing — this means early observation, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing running skills?
Running usually appears between 18 months and 2 years and grows smoother by ages 3–4. A child who walks well but isn't yet running freely is most often showing normal variation, not a problem. Seek a gentle developmental check if running is absent well past 2.5 years, or if there are frequent falls, stiffness, floppiness or loss of skills — a reason to observe, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing safety awareness?
Between 1 and 3 years, safety awareness is still being built — it is not expected to be reliable yet, so dashing off or climbing without caution is normal. Your role is to keep the environment safe and calmly repeat warnings, as repetition is how the skill forms. Seek a gentle developmental check if your toddler rarely responds to your warning voice, seems not to feel pain or danger, never checks back to you, or has lost a skill — not as alarm, but as early opportunity.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing scissor use?
Scissor use develops over a wide window, usually from age 3 to 5, so not yet snipping is rarely a worry on its own. Many children simply need more hand strength and playful practice. It is worth a developmental check only if it sits alongside other fine-motor gaps — difficulty with crayons, buttons or self-feeding, or no clear hand preference by age 4–5.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing self-advocacy skills?
Self-advocacy — asking for help, saying no, making choices — is a skill that only just begins emerging between 3 and 7 years and varies greatly between children. Not yet showing it is usually normal development, not a problem. It is worth a gentle developmental check when it is delayed alongside clear difficulties in talking, understanding or connecting with others.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing self management?
Between 12 and 36 months, self-management — settling feelings, coping with change, and simple routines — is still being built with your help, not done alone. A toddler not yet showing it is usually on their own timeline. The early years are about growing self-regulation through co-regulation with a steady adult. If the gap feels wide or paired with other worries, a developmental check brings clarity, not a diagnosis.
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