If you check “No” to any of the following questions, contact your Public Health Nurse at 250-850-2110. It’s never too soon to make sure your child is on track.
| NO | ||
| Understand three-step directions and longer sentences? (For example, “Put your toys away and wash your hands before lunch”) | ||
| Ask lots of questions? (For example, “How?” “Why?”) * | ||
| Correctly say the words – “two”, “hat”, “do”, “mud”, “fun”, “off”, “key”, “cookie”, “go”, “hug?” * | ||
| Use some word endings as in “running” and “jumped?” * | ||
| Tell what is happening in a picture when you ask? | ||
| Speak clearly enough to be understood most of the time? | ||
| Tell simple stories, sing songs, and say rhymes? * | ||
| Recognize some letters and try to write his first name? | ||
| Count to 10? | ||
| Work at one activity for up to 20-30 minutes? | ||
| Go up and down the stairs using first one foot and then the other? (with one foot on each step) | ||
| Stand on one foot for 1-3 seconds without help? | ||
| Try to hop on one foot? | ||
| Catch a large ball with outstretched arms? | ||
| Cut paper with scissors? | ||
| Draw a person with three or more body parts? | ||
| Hold a crayon or pencil correctly? | ||
| Undo buttons and zippers? | ||
| Use the toilet/potty during the day? (For example, is toilet trained) | ||
| Take turns and share with other children in small group activities and has favorite games and playmates? | ||
| Try to comfort someone who is upset? | ||
| Play near and talk to other children while continuing with his own activity? | ||
| Look for adult approval? (For example, “Watch me,” “Look what I did”) | ||
| Express his emotions and name some of his feelings? * |
* Starred items may not be common to children in all cultures. Please click here for a discussion of what this star might mean for Aboriginal children.
- Provide lots of opportunities to run, jump, and climb each day.
- When outdoors, talk about the things you see and do.
- Draw with your child and talk about his drawings.
- Encourage independence in dressing, using the toilet and hand washing.
- Provide opportunities for creativity (painting, coloring, drawing, telling short stories).
- Play rhyming games and laugh at the silly words that you can make together.
- Play group games with simple rules: Duck Duck Goose, Ring around the Rosie, London Bridge is Falling Down, and the Farmer in the Dell.
- Practice lacing skills by threading a shoelace through the holes in his shoes or holes punched around a picture.
- Provide your child with praise. Show him that you are listening to what he has to say.
- Teach your child his personal information (full name, address, phone number).
- Allow your child to help make decisions about simple problems in his life (if he has left his coat at preschool, let him decide what to wear as an alternative).
- Read to your child.